ISLAMABAD - The simmering war in Afghanistan, if official accounts are to be accepted, has killed more people last month than in any other month since 2001, when the United States and NATO troops invaded the country.

Battlefield violence between pro-Afghan government forces and the Taliban insurgency have particularly surged since May 1, when the last of the U.S.-led international forces formally began exiting the conflict-torn nation under orders from President Joe Biden.

The Taliban have overrun dozens of districts across Afghanistan, including several more during Thursday’s fighting, as foreign troops leave the country. Local Afghan officials and residents say pro-government forces in many areas are surrendering and abandoning territory without offering any resistance to the Taliban.
The New York Times, which keeps track of monthly casualties for government forces, reported the deaths of more than 700 security personnel and 200 civilians in insurgent attacks in June.
Shinwari and other government officials have declined to say how many districts the Taliban have captured in recent weeks. The TOLOnews said in its report that government forces had retreated from at least 120 districts in the face of the latest insurgent onslaught.

The U.N. Security Council was informed more than a week ago that at least 50 of Afghanistan’s 419 districts had fallen to the Taliban since early May.

On Thursday, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a news conference in Moscow that “over the last 10 days [Taliban] fighters have gained control over 30 districts.” She said Afghan security forces were struggling to deter the insurgent advances.

This came as U.S. military officials insisted Thursday that they would not abandon the Afghan military, even as the last of the U.S. combat forces prepared to the leave the country.

"I had an excellent call,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tweeted after speaking with Afghan Minister of Defense Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, adding the two discussed the Pentagon’s “investment in the security & stability of Afghanistan.”

According to a readout of the call, Austin also “reaffirmed the United States' commitment to the Afghan National Defense & Security Forces (ANDSF) as the withdrawal continues."
Germany, Poland and Italy have completed their troop pullouts, while other NATO allies are expected to wind up their military missions soon.

Afghans are increasingly criticizing the rapid withdrawal of foreign forces, fearing the return of the Islamist Taliban to power would undermine their freedom and rights.

U.S. officials are reported as saying a small unit of 650 troops will stay on to guard the American Embassy in Kabul.

The foreign troop withdrawal is a product of the February 2020 agreement Washington signed with the Taliban in exchange for counterterrorism guarantees and assurances the insurgent group would negotiate a political settlement to the war with the Afghan government.

But the dialogue, which started in Qatar last September, has stalled for months without making progress. Each Afghan rival blames the other for the deadlock.

Ross Wilson, acting U.S. ambassador in Kabul, on Wednesday criticized the Taliban for stepping up their violent campaign and urged warring parties to ease violence and negotiate a political end to the war.

Wilson noted in his statement that in the past 12 years the war had killed more than 38,000 Afghan civilians and injured at least 70,000 others.

What is happening in Afghanistan is politics, the reason behind it all, I don't know yet, but we shall find out in the coming weeks and months. Why will they withdraw all foreign forces?? I think that for Biden to grant an interview, suggesting, that following the withdrawal of US troops, that its not possible for Taliban to take over the country, for me, means that he knows sth.

War is bad ooo, people who calls for war should take a look at Afghanistan today, it takes years to recover from the effect of war

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. That makes Russia and China support these guys.
Then, this is what the majority of the Afghan people want.