US Troops Leaving Afghanistan, Taliban Rapidly Expanding Influence

Taliban insurgents who have taken control of Kandahar, the second largest city in Afghanistan, gather in the city square on the 13th (local time). [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] In Afghanistan, where the withdrawal of U.S. troops is underway, the Islamic militant group Taliban is rapidly expanding its influence. Within two days, they have captured six more provincial capitals, bringing the total to 15 out of 34 provincial capitals under their control.

According to major foreign media on the 13th, the Taliban consecutively took control of key southern Afghan cities including Lashkar Gah (capital of Helmand Province), Tarinkot (capital of Uruzgan Province), and Qalat (capital of Zabul Province). In Lashkar Gah, military and government officials negotiated with the Taliban and fled the city, while the chairman of the Zabul provincial council and Uruzgan provincial lawmakers informed the media that Qalat and Tarinkot had fallen.

The previous day, the Taliban had seized Ghazni, a strategic transportation hub just 150 km southwest of Kabul, and later that night took control of Kandahar, the capital of Kandahar Province, and Herat, the capital of Herat Province in the south and west respectively. In just two days, the Taliban captured six provincial capitals.

Kandahar and Herat, captured by the Taliban the previous night, are the second and third largest cities in Afghanistan after Kabul, serving as central cities in the south and west, dealing a significant blow to the Afghan government. Notably, Kandahar is where the Taliban was founded in 1994, making it a "spiritual hometown" for the group.

The Lashkar Gah city captured by the Taliban on this day has been a key city closely monitored by U.S. and British forces for years. It is a major drug production area, and the Taliban, which funds its activities through drug trafficking, can gain momentum for future operations by controlling this strategic location.

Recently in Afghanistan, as the withdrawal of international coalition forces including the U.S., UK, and Germany enters its final stages, the Taliban is rapidly expanding its power. Some predict that Kabul, the capital, could fall into Taliban hands within the next three months.

Additionally, as local security rapidly deteriorates, threats of retaliation against locals who cooperated with foreign troops are increasing. In response, the U.S. and UK governments announced plans to temporarily deploy forces of approximately 3,000 and 600 troops respectively to ensure the safe evacuation of their nationals and Afghans who cooperated with them.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.