Taliban seizes cities across Afghanistan as U.S. readies final withdrawal

The Taliban on Monday had seized control of at least four provincial capitals in Afghanistan, as the militants pressed on in their offensive while American forces finalized their pullout from the war-torn country.

The fighters captured Sar-e Pul, in Sar-e Pul province in northern Afghanistan and Taleqan, in the northeastern province of Takhar on Sunday.

Abdullah Bek, a lawmaker from Takhar Province, said Afghan security forces and militias had defended Taleqan city for 60 days before they had to give up and retreat. The city is now in the hands of the Taliban.

Hassan Sharifi, a lawmaker from Sar-e Pul province, told NBC News that Sar-e Pul city had fallen and that only one district remained in the government’s hands in the province.

The gains add two more provincial capitals to the Taliban’s rapidly growing list as U.S. forces complete their withdrawal. The group captured its first provincial capital Friday in Nimroz Province.