Afghanistan warlords are taking up arms, fighting against the Taliban’s sweep across the country since US troops withdrawal began.
The Islamist insurgents are capturing more land and the government forces are unable to stop them. Army troops are abandoning their bases and running to neighbouring nations.
News reports say Taliban forces are launching assaults on strategic cities and towns, including Kandahar in the south and Qala-e-Naw in the northwest.
The insurgents say they have captured 85 percent of the country’s territory. The western-backed Afghan government dismisses the claims, saying they are still in control of most of the country.
Some warlords in Afghanistan teamed up with US and Northern Alliance forces to help topple the Taliban in 2001. The US then invaded the country to bring down the Islamic government in the country.
Two decades later, the warlords are calling for a “second resistance” against the Islamists, says Financial Times.
FT says the urgency has intensified as the Taliban toppled district after district, sparking fears that the country will descend into chaos.
Besides the warlords, Kabul has launched a “National Mobilisation” drive to arm local volunteers.
The current vice-president of Afghanistan is Abdul Rashid Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek who has served as a former pro-Soviet fighter, anti-Taliban commander. He is backed by Turkey.
“We will come to the north, it is our home,” said Dostum last month. “I will be proud if I am killed and martyred there.” It is a signal that he has the backing of some warlords to fight against the Taliban.
However demoralised Afghan security forces are suffering repeated defeats on the battlefield.
