The Taliban entered Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, according to news released today by local media. They had previously captured the key city of Jalalabad in the east of the country. For hours there have been rumors about the entry of the Taliban into the capital. The presidential press office denies it, stating that gunshots have been fired in some areas of the city. According to some media, however, groups of Taliban have already entered the city.
“A separate decision on Kabul will be taken later,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid explained to the German agency Dpa. “People should be sure that we don’t want a state of war in Kabul or, God forbid, nobody be harmed.”
Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, was conquered without a fight, as two provincial councilors explained to the German agency Dpa. The Taliban entered Jalalabad at 6 am (1.30 Gmt), the sources explained to the German agency.
The capture of the city of Jalalabad with an estimated population of over 280,000 and other areas of the province gives the Taliban control of the Torkham border crossing, the largest trade and transit route between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Taliban now controls at least 25 capitals of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. All these cities were acquired in 10 days.