US Intelligence Says Taliban Could Seize Afghan Capital In 90 Days

JAKARTA - Taliban fighters could isolate Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, within 30 days and possibly take it over within 90, a US defense official, citing intelligence sources, said, as the Taliban have won a string of victories in various cities.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the new assessment of how long Kabul could last was an advantage for the Taliban, as the US-led coalition pulled out.

"But this is not a foregone conclusion," the official added, expressing confidence that Afghan security forces could reverse the momentum by putting up more resistance.

Taliban militants currently control about 65 percent of Afghanistan's territory and have taken or threatened to take over 11 provincial capitals, a senior European Union official said Tuesday. Faizabad, in the northeastern province of Badakhshan, on Wednesday became the capital of the eighth province captured by the Taliban.

The Taliban has stepped up its offensive in recent days. Kandahar, a key city for both the Taliban and Afghanistan, has seen intense fighting between the two sides.

Meanwhile, all the gateways to Kabul, which lies in a valley surrounded by mountains, were filled with civilians fleeing the violence, Western security sources said. It is difficult to say whether the Taliban fighters also made it through.

"The fear is that the suicide bomber entered the diplomatic base to scare, attack and make sure everyone leaves as quickly as possible," the source said.

Separately, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said offensive attacks by the Taliban were against the spirit of the 2020 agreement.

"The Taliban are committed to talks about a peace deal that will lead to a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. (But) all indications are at least that the Taliban are pursuing victory on the battlefield," Price criticized.

"Attacking the provincial capital and targeting civilians is not in the spirit of the deal," Price said.

For information, the United Nations says more than 1,000 civilians have died in the past month, while the International Committee of the Red Cross said that since August 1, around 4,042 injured people have been treated in 15 health facilities.

The Taliban, meanwhile, have denied targeting or killing civilians and have called for an independent investigation.

"We have not targeted civilians or their homes in any area, but rather the operation has been carried out with great precision and care," Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said in a statement on Wednesday.