Taliban captures another province near Kabul, attacks northern city

The Taliban has seized a province just south of Afghanistan's capital and launched a multi-pronged assault on a major city in the north defended by powerful former warlords.

The insurgents captured the capital of Paktika province bordering Pakistan, according to Khalid Asad, a lawmaker from the province. He confirmed that Sharana fell to the insurgents on Saturday but could not immediately provide further details.

The insurgents have captured much of northern, western and southern Afghanistan in a breakneck offensive less than three weeks before the United States is set to withdraw its last troops, raising fears of a full militant takeover or another Afghan civil war.

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The Taliban also captured all of Logar and detained its provincial officials, Hoda Ahmadi, a lawmaker from the province, said Saturday. She said the Taliban have reached the Char Asyab district, just 11 kilometres south of the capital, Kabul.

The Taliban also attacked the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif from several directions, setting off heavy fighting on its outskirts, according to Munir Ahmad Farhad, a spokesman for the provincial governor. There was no immediate word on casualties.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani delivered a televised speech on Saturday, his first public appearance since the recent Taliban gains, in which he vowed not to give up the “achievements” of the 20 years since the US toppled the Taliban following the 9/11 attacks.

“We have started consultations, inside the government with elders and political leaders, representatives of different levels of the community as well as our international allies," he said. "Soon the results will be shared with you,” he added, without elaborating further.