Afghan govt says, 'we stand firm' even as Taliban close in on Kabul

The (Afghan) government will fully support the 'national resistance' against the terrorist group in the country, Afghanistan's first Vice President Amrullah Saleh said in a tweet.

Kabul: Afghanistan's first Vice President Amrullah Saleh on Friday informed that the government has decided to continue the fight against the Taliban and that it stands firm against the terrorists. The government will fully support the 'national resistance' against the terrorist group in the country, he said in a tweet.

These remarks came soon after a security meeting was held in Afghan Presidential Palace on the same day, Tolo News reported citing Amrullah Saleh. "Security meeting at the Presidential Palace decided to continue the fight against the Taliban," Saleh said.

"All required facilities will be provided to the defence and security forces as well as the national resistance forces," Saleh added.

Afghanistan is witnessing a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified its offensive against Afghan forces and civilians with the complete pullback of foreign forces just a few weeks away.

Due to rising violence in the country due to Taliban, the situation is deteriorating badly as the terror group has been looting people and killing civilians after capturing multiple areas from the government.

Recently, President Ashraf Ghani also appointed a new chief of army staff in an attempt to give a robust response to the terror group on the ground.

On Friday, the Taliban completed their sweep of the country’s south as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war. The terror organisation on Thursday had captured Kandahar and Herat, the country’s second and third-largest cities after Kabul.

With agency inputs