The Latest: Taliban take control of last holdout province

The Taliban accidental they person taken power of Panjshir state northbound of Kabul, the Afghan capital.

The state was the past holdout of anti-Taliban forces successful the state and the lone state the Taliban had not seized during their expanse of Afghanistan past month.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid issued a connection Monday, saying Panjshir was present nether power of Taliban fighters.

Thousands of Taliban fighters overran 8 districts of Panjshir overnight, according to witnesses from the area. The anti-Taliban fighters had been led by the erstwhile vice president and the lad of the iconic anti-Taliban combatant Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was killed by a termination bomber conscionable days earlier the 9/11 violent attacks successful the United States.

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MORE ON AFGHANISTAN:

— Taliban accidental they took Panjshir, past holdout Afghan province

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— Rescue groups: US tally misses hundreds near successful Afghanistan

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— Find much AP sum astatine https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan

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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

WASHINGTON — The apical Republican connected the House Foreign Affairs Committee says immoderate Americans who person been trying to get retired of Afghanistan since the U.S. subject near are sitting successful airplanes astatine an airdrome acceptable to permission but the Taliban are not letting them instrumentality off.

Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas says determination are six airplanes astatine the Mazar-e-Sharif airdrome with American citizens connected board, on with their Afghan interpreters, and the Taliban are “holding them hostage” close now.

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A idiosyncratic astatine the Mazar-e-Sharif airdrome confirmed respective craft helium believes were chartered by the U.S. are parked astatine the airport. Taliban person prevented them from leaving, saying they wanted to cheque the documents of those connected board, galore of whom bash not person passports oregon visas. The airdrome authoritative did not privation to beryllium identified due to the fact that of the sensitivity of the subject.

McCaul, speaking connected “Fox News Sunday,” says the Taliban person made demands. He gave nary specifics but said he’s disquieted “They’re going to request much and more, whether it beryllium currency oregon legitimacy arsenic the authorities of Afghanistan.”

He said the craft person been astatine the airdrome for “the past mates days.”

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