Taliban seize Logar province in Afghanistan

The Taliban seized Logar province just south of Afghanistan’s capital and launched a multi-pronged assault early on Aug. 14 on a major city in the north defended by powerful former warlords, Afghan officials said, Report informs referring to AP.

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

The Taliban 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 kilometers (7 miles) 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.