Taliban spokesman warns US against further intervention in Afghanistan

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There is no ceasefire agreement with the Afghan government on the horizon as the Taliban pursue military gains, said Muhammad Naeem Wardak, spokesman for the Taliban Politburo.

The comments come after the Taliban took control of Kunduz, a strategically important provincial capital in northern Afghanistan, on Sunday. It is the first major city to fall to the insurgent group since its offensive began in May, and marks a blow to the Afghan government.

It is also the latest in a series of victories for the Taliban as foreign forces, led by the United States, complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The provincial capital Zaranj, near the Iranian border, fell under Taliban control on Friday; the next day, the insurgents seized the provincial capital Sherberghan, near the Turkmen border. On Sunday, Taliban forces mainly invaded the provincial capital of Sar-e-Pul, also in the north of the country.
The country’s rapid descent into violence shocked many. There are fears that even the national capital, Kabul, may fall.
Taliban capture Kunduz, first major Afghan city to fall into US troop withdrawal void

Over the past week, the United States has stepped up airstrikes against Taliban positions in an attempt to halt their advances. The Taliban accused the United States of bombing a hospital and a high school, as well as other civilian targets in Helmand province. CNN could not independently verify their claims.

“US forces have carried out several airstrikes to defend our Afghan partners in recent days,” Major Nicole Ferrara, spokesman for the US Central Command, told CNN on Sunday, dodging a question about the targets of the strikes.

Speaking to Al Jazeera on Sunday, Wardak warned the United States against further intervention and accused the Afghan government of starting the recent fighting.

“The Afghan government is the one that chose to start the war in different provinces,” Wardak said. The actions that (the) Taliban took were in response and in reaction to the attacks and actions of the government. “

The United States Embassy in Kabul criticized the Taliban offensive against Afghan cities, saying on Sunday that its actions to “forcefully impose its government are unacceptable and contradict its claim to support a negotiated settlement in the peace process. Doha “.

“They demonstrate a blind disregard for the well-being and rights of civilians and will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in this country,” the embassy said.

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