Afghanistan: Taliban reportedly captures Kandahar and Lashkar Gah cities as of Aug. 13 /update 1

Event

The Taliban has reportedly captured the major cities of Kandahar, Kandahar Province, and Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, as of Aug. 13. The Taliban has taken control of Farah, Nimroz, Helmand, and Kandahar provinces. Thousands of civilians have fled conflict zones. An unspecified number of security forces, Taliban fighters, and civilians have died in various clashes. Most long-distance transport services in the impacted areas are nonoperational.

The ongoing clashes are likely to result in further severe disruptions to travel and both commercial and government operations. Additional violence is likely around all contested locations.

Context

The Taliban has captured at least 14 provincial capitals as of Aug. 13, having also captured Ghazni and Herat Aug. 12. Other provincial capitals are under threat, such as Tirinkot, Uruzgan Province, and Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province. The Taliban fully controls at least 12 provinces nationwide, mostly in southern and western areas of the country. The militant group continues to battle government forces in contested districts. Further attacks on provincial capitals are highly likely in the coming weeks.

Several embassies in Kabul have called for their respective citizens to leave the country due to prevailing security conditions and the limited availability of consulate support.

Advice

Defer travel to areas contested by or recently captured by the Taliban. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Liaise with trusted security partners for further information. Review and update contingency plans. Carry personal identification documents while traveling in Afghanistan. Heed all security personnel instructions.