The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) will switch their operations to an offensive mode in near future, a top security official said as Taliban has been taking over territories in the last two months. 

Over the last two years, Afghan forces have been on a defensive stance few times. The first time they agreed to be on a defensive mode was in 2019 when the government agreed to avoid offensive operations against the Taliban as part of efforts to move the peace process forward. Last year, defense officials said the security forces are in an “active defensive mode” that allows them to take action against the Taliban whenever they attack a security outpost or a base. 

Talking to TOLOnews on Saturday, Gen. Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal, the acting minister of interior, said the Taliban is seeking to takeover supply routes, but the security forces are planning to thwart such attempts by the group. 

Referring to the fall of districts to the Taliban, Mirzakwal said that war management issues are the main reason behind the ongoing situation.  

He called on all Afghans to mobilize against the Taliban. 

Gen. Mirzakwal, who was appointed to the post last month, said the increase in public uprising forces was effective at this juncture, adding that these forces will be operating within the structure of the National Directorate of Security until the situation gets back to normal. 

 “We are working on the plan to move to offensive status. The centers of the cities will never collapse. Provinces are our red line,” Mirzakwal said. 

Some Kabul residents, meanwhile, said Afghan forces will defend the threats effectively if people join hands together in their support. 

“Regarding Sher Khan border town (in Kunduz), we are working on a plan to retake it from the Taliban,” he said. 

The border town was captured by the Taliban this month, cutting trade and transit to Central Asia. 

“If the Taliban thinks they will win militarily, this is not possible,” said military analyst Dawlat Waziri. 

Mirzakwal concluded that the Afghan government was still in favor of a political settlement of the conflict rather than a military solution.