The Afghan Taliban has captured Afghanistan´s main border crossing with Tajikistan after defeating the Afghan army in a dangerous battle late night.
The spokesperson of Afghan Taliban claimed that with security forces abandoning their posts and some fleeing across the frontier the Afghan Taliban has captured the border crossing last night.
“Unfortunately, this morning, and after an hour of fighting, the Taliban captured Shir Khan port and the town and all the border check posts with Tajikistan,” Kunduz provincial council member Khaliddin Hakmi told a media outlet.
Separately, an army officer said: “We were forced to leave all check posts… and some of our soldiers crossed the border into Tajikistan. “By the morning, they (Taliban fighters) were everywhere; hundreds of them.”
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the insurgents had seized the border post, on the south bank of the Pyanj River. “Our Mujahideen are in full control of Shir Khan Bandar and all the border crossings with Tajikistan in Kunduz.”
Since early May, the Taliban have launched major offensives targeting government forces across the rugged countryside, and claim to have seized at least 87 of the country´s 421 districts. Many of their claims are disputed by the government, and independent verification is difficult — especially in areas that frequently change hands.
