### [2021-08-10](/feed/2021/08/10/index.md)

##### War in Afghanistan
# The Taliban tightens its grip in many districts and cities in northern Afghanistan as President Ashraf Ghani calls on local militias to fight the armed group. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby says that the United States is willing to continue their airstrike campaign against the Taliban but warned that "it is up to the Afghan government to defend themselves" and also added that "it is their struggle". 

Taliban fighters tightened their grip on captured territory in Afghanistan on Tuesday as civilians hid in their homes and a pro-government commander vowed to fight to the death to defend Mazar-i-Sharif, the biggest city in the north.


### Sources:

1. [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taliban-tighten-control-afghan-north-residents-weigh-options-2021-08-10/) [Image](https://www.reuters.com/resizer/PHel0ffafUFODBsDYGKlHz-0rH4=/800x419/smart/filters:quality(80)/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/B5AX4NCYRJL3DGZ27SFK4YM55A.jpg)

### Changes:

1. The Taliban tightens its grip in scores of districts and cities in the north as President Ghani calls on local militias to fight the armed group. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby says that the U.S. is willing to continue with their airstrikes campaign against the Taliban but warned that "it is up to the Afghan's government to defend themselves" and added that "it is their struggle".  _2021-08-10 13:06:53 (First version)_
2. The Taliban tightens its grip in scores of districts and cities in the north as President Ashraf Ghani calls on local militias to fight the armed group. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby says that the United States is willing to continue their airstrike campaign against the Taliban but warned that "it is up to the Afghan government to defend themselves" and added that "it is their struggle".  _2021-08-11 00:33:28 (Update)_
2. The Taliban tightens its grip in many districts and cities in northern Afghanistan as President Ashraf Ghani calls on local militias to fight the armed group. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby says that the United States is willing to continue their airstrike campaign against the Taliban but warned that "it is up to the Afghan government to defend themselves" and also added that "it is their struggle".  _(Current version)_

### Related:

1. [The Taliban captures its ninth provincial capital in six days, seizing Fayzabad, the capital of Badakhshan Province, amid a rapid advance in northern Afghanistan. The capture comes as President Ashraf Ghani appeals to local warlords to confront and fight the Taliban. The jihadist group also takes control of Kunduz Airport, after hundreds of Afghan National Security Forces personnel in the area surrender with all of their military equipment. ](/feed/2021/08/11/the-taliban-captures-its-ninth-provincial-capital-in-six-days-seizing-fayzabad-the-capital-of-badakhshan-province-ami.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_
2. [President Ashraf Ghani blames the worsening security situation in Afghanistan on the sudden withdrawal of U.S. troops amid a rapid advance of the Taliban across the country. Ghani warns that the Islamist group has not severed ties with other terrorist groups. The Taliban rejects Ghani's statement. ](/feed/2021/08/2/president-ashraf-ghani-blames-the-worsening-security-situation-in-afghanistan-on-the-sudden-withdrawal-of-us-troops-am.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_
3. [Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen says that the Islamist group "does not want to monopolize" Afghanistan, pointing to past failed attempts by countries to do so. Shaheen also says that women's rights under the Taliban would now be respected, although women would still need to wear a headscarf or hijab and have a male relative as a companion in order to leave their house. Shaheen also accused President Ashraf Ghani of being a "warmonger" and said that "no one wants a civil war in Afghanistan". ](/feed/2021/07/23/taliban-spokesperson-suhail-shaheen-says-that-the-islamist-group-does-not-want-to-monopolize-afghanistan-pointing-to.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_
4. [United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley says that half of all Afghan districts are under Taliban control as the complete withdrawal of foreign armed forces approaches. ](/feed/2021/07/21/united-states-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-of-staff-mark-milley-says-that-half-of-all-afghan-districts-are-under-taliban.md) _Context: Taliban, U.S., War in Afghanistan, districts_
5. [President Ashraf Ghani names Bismillah Khan Mohammadi as his new defense minister and Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal as the new interior minister, replacing their respective predecessors amid a deteriorating security situation, with foreign forces withdrawing from the country and the Taliban gaining territory, capturing six more districts. ](/feed/2021/06/19/president-ashraf-ghani-names-bismillah-khan-mohammadi-as-his-new-defense-minister-and-abdul-sattar-mirzakwal-as-the-new.md) _Context: Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, Taliban, War in Afghanistan, districts_
6. [The Taliban says that it plans to suspend attacks in southern Afghanistan if the United States promises to halt all strikes and night raids in keeping with the peace agreement signed in February. ](/feed/2020/10/16/the-taliban-says-that-it-plans-to-suspend-attacks-in-southern-afghanistan-if-the-united-states-promises-to-halt-all-stri.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Taliban, U.S., War in Afghanistan_
7. [Afghan general and Kandahar police chief Abdul Raziq Achakzai is assassinated by one of his bodyguards during a high-level meeting inside the governor's compound with U.S. general Austin S. Miller. Gen. Miller escaped unharmed according to officials while the governor was critically injured. The Taliban claims responsibility. ](/feed/2018/10/18/afghan-general-and-kandahar-police-chief-abdul-raziq-achakzai-is-assassinated-by-one-of-his-bodyguards-during-a-high-lev.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Taliban, U.S., War in Afghanistan_
8. [Afghan President Ashraf Ghani calls for a conditional cease-fire with Taliban insurgents for the duration of the Eid al-Adha holiday. ](/feed/2018/08/19/afghan-president-ashraf-ghani-calls-for-a-conditional-cease-fire-with-taliban-insurgents-for-the-duration-of-the-eid-al.md) _Context: Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_
9. [The Taliban announce a three-day Eid ceasefire with the Afghan authorities, according to Pajhwok Afghan News. On Thursday, President Ashraf Ghani announced a ceasefire with the Taliban from June 12–19. ](/feed/2018/06/9/the-taliban-announce-a-three-day-eid-ceasefire-with-the-afghan-authorities-according-to-pajhwok-afghan-news-on-thursda.md) _Context: Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_
10. [President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai orders the United States to leave Wardak province amid allegations of torture associated with US special forces. ](/feed/2013/02/24/president-of-afghanistan-hamid-karzai-orders-the-united-states-to-leave-wardak-province-amid-allegations-of-torture-asso.md) _Context: Afghanistan, President of Afghanistan, U.S., War in Afghanistan_