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TALIBAN NOW ONLY 90 KM FROM KABUL, INDIA HOPES FOR ‘COMPREHENSIVE CEASEFIRE’

Taliban take 17 of the country’s 34 provincial capitals; insurgents claim they will completely take over Afghanistan in seven days. Reports say that a new ceasefire plan is in the works.

The Taliban on Friday captured four provincial capitals in Afghanistan, the Logar province, which is about 90 km from Afghanistan’s capital Kabul. Earlier in the day, they had captured two of the biggest Afghan cities Kandahar and Herat.

 According to the Associated Press, the insurgents have taken half of the country’s 34 provincial capitals in recent days, gaining control of two-thirds of the country.

In an interview with an Indian TV channel, the Taliban fighters said that they will complete the takeover of Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul, in less than seven days. The latest US military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within 90 days.

Meanwhile, India on Thursday said that it continues to hope that there will be an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire between the Afghanistan government and Taliban.

Speaking at the first in-person press briefing since last March, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said that India is supporting all peace initiatives of Afghanistan and the primary concern is peace and stability in that country. “It is of concern. It is a rapidly evolving situation. We continue to hope that there will be an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. We are supporting all peace initiatives in Afghanistan. The primary concern is peace and stability in that country,” he said.

Asked about the discussions with the Taliban, Arindam Bagchi said: “We are in touch with all stakeholders, various ­stakeholders.

I would not like to say anything further,” he said, adding: “We want a ceasefire and want peace in the region.” He further said: “We had issued an advisory for Indian nationals to leave Afghanistan for India through commercial means. There is no formal evacuation mechanism.”

“Separately, our Consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif withdrew all India-based personnel earlier this week. This is a temporary measure. Our Consulate there continues to be operational with locally recruited staff,” he said further.Asked about media reports that Taliban has captured helicopters gifted by India, Bagchi said: “It is now an internal matter for Afghanistan since it is not an Indian Air Force helicopter. It is now an Afghan helicopter.”

While responding to Pakistan’s continued support to the Taliban, Bagchi said the international community is well aware of that country’s role.

Afghanistan has witnessed a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified their offensive against civilians and Afghan security forces with the complete pullback of the US and NATO forces just a few weeks away.

NATO members along with the European Union and the United Nations on Friday confirmed that they will not recognise any government in Afghanistan imposed through armed forces.

A NATO official in Brussels also told Pajhwok Afghan News that allies are constantly consulting on the situation in Afghanistan. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is in regular contact with Allies and the Afghan authorities. “NATO is monitoring the security situation very closely. We continue to coordinate with the Afghan authorities and the rest of the international community. We continue to maintain our diplomatic presence in Kabul. As the security of our personnel is paramount,” a NATO official informed.

Also, with security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the US Embassy in Kabul. Separately, Britain said about 600 troops would be deployed on a short-term basis to support British nationals leaving the country, and Canada is sending special forces to help evacuate its embassy.

Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women’s rights and conducting public executions. Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting.

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