Over 1000 Afghan troops flee into Tajikistan as Taliban advance in northern Afghanistan

[Taimoor Khan]

Over 1000 Afghan troops flee into Tajikistan as Taliban advance in northern Afghanistan - World - DAWN.COM



Over 1000 Afghan troops flee into Tajikistan as Taliban advance in northern Afghanistan
ReutersPublished July 5, 2021 - Updated about 2 hours ago
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— Reuters/File
More than 1,000 Afghan security personnel fled across the border into Tajikistan on Sunday following Taliban advances in northern Afghanistan, the Tajik border guard service said.
The crossings underscore a rapidly deteriorating situation in the country as foreign troops near a complete withdrawal after 20 years of war in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of Afghan security force members have fled swift Taliban advances in the north, but Sunday's retreats were the largest confirmed, coming just two days after the United States officially vacated its main base in Afghanistan as part of a plan to withdraw all foreign troops by September 11.
The Taliban took over six key districts in the northern province of Badakshan, which borders both Tajikistan and China, following which 1,037 Afghan servicemen fled across the border with Tajikistan's permission, the border guard service said.

On Sunday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani spoke to his Tajik counterpart, President Emomali Rakhmon, over the phone to discuss the developments.

Map courtesy: AFP

"Special attention was paid to the escalation of the situation in Afghanistan's northern areas adjacent to Tajikistan," a statement from the Tajik president's office said.
It added that Rakhmon expressed concern about the "forced crossings" by the Afghan security force members.
A senior Afghan official confirmed there had been hundreds of crossings into Tajikistan but did not know the exact number. "The Taliban cut off all the roads and these people had nowhere to go but to cross the border," he told Reuters on Monday.
Last week, the United States vacated Bagram Airbase — bringing an effective end to the longest war in its history — as part of an understanding with the Taliban, against whom it has fought for two decades.
The Taliban has ceased attacks on Western forces, but continues to target Afghan government and security installations as it makes rapid territorial advances across the country.
Peace talks between the two sides remain inconclusive.

 

[Mrc]

Take North and sweep south seems to b the strategy

 

[Menace2Society]

Can we take the wakhan corridor already, this is the perfect time for a land grab.

 

[Taimoor Khan]

Can we take the wakhan corridor already, this is the perfect time for a land grab.

Looking at the map, wonder how kabul regime in current state controlling wakhan corridor.

 

[Menace2Society]

Looking at the map, wonder how kabul regime in current state controlling wakhan corridor.

They are not, we have an opportunity here. Take that land that should have been ours anyway and get a hard a border with Tajikistan.

 

[Clutch]

How can Soldiers "flee" to another country... Without that being called an invasion of that country???... Unless they were originally from there to start off with...

 

[ali_raza]

They are not, we have an opportunity here. Take that land that should have been ours anyway and get a hard a border with Tajikistan.

when the whole bank is coming why settle for chump change

 

[Myth_buster_1]

Looking at the map, wonder how kabul regime in current state controlling wakhan corridor.

Thats actually should be easiest to control. Only few km of border. Heck, all the afghans who wants to escape tbans should just move to that region.

 

[Goritoes]

I'd shut Pakistani border.

 

[Kambojaric]

Looking at the map, wonder how kabul regime in current state controlling wakhan corridor.

1) its remote, barely any roads exist although the Chinese are building one to their border at the moment.
2) The Wakhis who inhabit the region are Ismailis and unlikely to be supporters of Taliban rule.

If the Taliban want I suppose they can easily take it from the ANA but they are more focused on the major centers of power in the country rather than a remote rural area where the locals will likely oppose their rule.