### [2021-08-14](/feed/2021/08/14/index.md)

##### War in Afghanistan
# The Taliban captures the eastern Logar Province, seizes seven more provincial capitals (Gardez, Sharana, Asadabad, Maymana, Mihtarlam, Nili and Afghanistan's fourth largest city, Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of the northern Balkh Province), as heavy fighting is reported amid a rapid advance of the group towards the capital Kabul. Mazar-i-Sharif had been visited on Wednesday by President Ashraf Ghani. 

Insurgents are continuing their onslaught on key areas, including the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif. Logar province has fallen into the hands of the Taliban. Follow DW for live updates.


### Sources:

1. [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/14/major-northern-afghan-city-mazar-i-sharif-falls-to-the-taliban)
2. [DW](https://www.dw.com/en/afghanistan-taliban-attack-mazar-e-sharif-live-updates/a-58863457) [Image](https://static.dw.com/image/58863629_6.jpg)

### Changes:

1. The Taliban captures the eastern Logar Province, seizes Sharana, the provincial capital of the eastern Paktika Province, and enters the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, the fourth-largest city of Afghanistan and the capital of the northern Balkh Province, as heavy fighting is reported amid a rapid advance of the group towards the capital Kabul. The city had been visited on Wednesday by President Ashraf Ghani.  _2021-08-14 19:06:50 (First version)_
2. The Taliban captures the eastern Logar Province, seizes Sharana, the capital of the eastern Paktika Province, and Afghanistan's fourth largest city, Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of the northern Balkh Province, as heavy fighting is reported amid a rapid advance of the group towards the capital Kabul. Mazar-i-Sharif had been visited on Wednesday by President Ashraf Ghani.  _2021-08-14 21:06:43 (Update)_
2. The Taliban captures the eastern Logar Province, seizes seven more provincial capitals (Gardez, Sharana, Asadabad, Maymana, Mihtarlam, Nili and Afghanistan's fourth largest city, Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of the northern Balkh Province), as heavy fighting is reported amid a rapid advance of the group towards the capital Kabul. Mazar-i-Sharif had been visited on Wednesday by President Ashraf Ghani.  _(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: Ashraf Ghani, President, Taliban, War in Afghanistan, provincial_
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". ](/feed/2021/08/10/the-taliban-tightens-its-grip-in-many-districts-and-cities-in-northern-afghanistan-as-president-ashraf-ghani-calls-on-lo.md) _Context: Ashraf Ghani, President, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_
3. [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: Ashraf Ghani, President, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_
4. [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: Ashraf Ghani, President, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_
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, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_
6. [President Ashraf Ghani pledges to speed up the release of more Taliban prisoners, and asks that the Taliban release more government prisoners in return. ](/feed/2020/05/24/president-ashraf-ghani-pledges-to-speed-up-the-release-of-more-taliban-prisoners-and-asks-that-the-taliban-release-more.md) _Context: Ashraf Ghani, President, Taliban_
7. [A truck bomb explodes near a court in Gardez, Paktia, Afghanistan, killing five civilians. The Taliban claims responsibility, calling it a retaliation to statements by President Ashraf Ghani blaming the group for an attack on a maternity hospital two days ago. ](/feed/2020/05/14/a-truck-bomb-explodes-near-a-court-in-gardez-paktia-afghanistan-killing-five-civilians-the-taliban-claims-responsibi.md) _Context: Ashraf Ghani, Gardez, President, Taliban_
8. [The Taliban rejects the government's conditional prisoner release order announced by President Ashraf Ghani. The Taliban demand 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the government be released before intra-Afghan dialogue can be initiated. ](/feed/2020/03/11/the-taliban-rejects-the-government-s-conditional-prisoner-release-order-announced-by-president-ashraf-ghani-the-taliban.md) _Context: Ashraf Ghani, President, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_
9. [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, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_
10. [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: Ashraf Ghani, President, Taliban, War in Afghanistan_