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Taliban Seize Provincial Capitals in Afghanistan

VOA News

   The Taliban's advance in Afghanistan took them closer to Kabul with the
   seizure of Ghazni, a city about 150 kilometers from the capital.

   The following is a compilation of the provincial capitals the Taliban
   have captured or are threatening to seize. There are 34 provincial
   capitals in the country.

   Provincial capitals captured by the Taliban

   August 6 -- Zaranj: The Taliban seize control of the city in Nimroz
   province in the south, the first provincial capital to fall after they
   escalated attacks on Afghan forces in May.

   August 7 -- Sheberghan: The Taliban say they have taken control of the
   northern province of Jawzjan.

   August 8 -- Sar-e Pul: The Islamic group captures Sar-e Pul, capital of
   the northern province of the same name. It is the first of three
   capitals to be seized by the group that day.

   August 8 -- Kunduz: The Taliban take control of the northern strategic
   city that serves as the entryway to the northern provinces and Central
   Asia.

   August 8 -- Taloqan: The northern capital of the Takhar province is
   seized by the Taliban that evening.

   August 9 -- Aybak: Taliban fighters overrun the capital of the northern
   province of Samangan.

   August 10 -- Pul-i-Khumri: Residents say the capital of the central
   province of Baghlan had fallen to the Taliban.

   August 11 -- Faizabad: A provincial council member says the Islamic
   group took control of the capital of the northeastern province of
   Badakhshan.

   August 12 -- Ghazni: A high-ranking security officer says the Taliban
   seized the city, which is the capital of the province of the same name.

   August 12 -- Qala-e-Naw: The Taliban said in a formal statement that
   they captured the capital of northwestern Badghis province.

   Provincial capitals contested as of August 12

   Herat: Afghanistan's third-largest city.

   Farah: Capital of the western province of Farah.

   Lashkar Gah: Capital of Helmand in the south.

   Kandahar: Capital of Kandahar province in the south.
   Some information for this factbox came from Reuters and the Associated
   Press.

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