The Taliban are advancing rapidly across large parts of Afghanistan. They are now in control of more territory than at any time since they were ousted from power in 2001.
Emboldened by the withdrawal of US troops, they are gaining ground in many districts. Government forces are in retreat.
Cities now under Taliban control include Kandahar, Herat, Lashkar Gah and Ghazni, which is just 150km from Kabul.
Taliban fighters have also taken Mazar-i-Sharif, an anti-Taliban bastion which was the last major city in northern Afghanistan still under government control.
Source: How the Taliban retook half of Afghanistan – BBC News
