Police special forces and commandos on Wednesday assured the people that soon Pul-e- Khumri city, capital of northern Baghlan province, will break free from the Taliban siege.  

Residents of the city told TOLOnews reporter Sharif Amiry, who is in Pul-e-Khumri, they have left all their belongings and moved to the secure parts of the city. 

“Not just in our village, if you see, the people are being displaced in every village, district and across the province,” said Sultan, a resident of Pul-e-Khumri. 

Dahna-e-Ghori, Burka, Nahrin, Jalga, Baghlan-e-Markzai and Doshi districts of Baghlan fell to the Taliban in the past two weeks, according to local officials and sources.

On the battlefield, police special forces, commandos and public uprising forces are fighting against the Taliban. 

“They (Taliban) blocked a road in PD2 (of Pul-e-Khumri) and we are going to clear the road,” said Fawad Nabard, commander of the 888 police unit. 

“The people must not lose their morale and must not fear. Nothing will happen, we will fight, and the people should just stay in their homes,” said Kaka Jan, a police officer.

TOLOnews' Amiry said that despite the ongoing clashes in Pul-e-Khumri, the people are continuing with their normal life and the shops and government organizations are open and conducting business.  

“The people have concerns. Six or seven districts fell to the Taliban and the central government has yet to pay attention to the situation,” said Manlang Andarabi, a resident of Pul-e-Khumri. 

“The government must send more troops to Baghlan and not let the property of the people and the government be stolen,” said resident Frayab Aslami.

Reports indicate that the Taliban has taken over the centers of Dand-e-Pathan and Janikhel districts in Paktia province, Shamalzai in Zabul province and Khash in northern Badakhshan province over the past 24 hours. 

However, the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI) has said that the Taliban’s recent military advance is temporary and will be pushed back soon by security forces.