Taliban battle their way into western Afghan city
The Taliban have entered a key city in western Afghanistan as they continue a rapid advance before Nato troops leave.
All government officials in Qala-e-Naw, provincial capital of Badghis province, had been moved to a nearby army base, the local governor told the BBC.
He said the militants were moving “towards the centre of the city” and there was heavy fighting with government troops.
The Taliban gains come as the US, UK and allies withdraw after 20 years.
The vast majority of remaining foreign forces in Afghanistan have left ahead of an 11 September deadline, leaving the Afghan military in sole charge of security.
Local sources have told the BBC the Taliban moved on the prison in Qala-e-Naw and freed about 400 inmates, including more than 100 of the group’s fighters.
Afghan forces guarding the prison are reported to have surrendered without a fight.
Governor Hisamudin Shams said he had seen the Taliban in the district of Qala-e-Naw where he lives, and the headquarters of the intelligence service had been set on fire.
But he denied reports the city had fallen to the Taliban, and said Afghan troops were defending it.
The Taliban have seized dozens of districts in recent weeks and are now thought to control about a third of the country, making new gains on a daily basis. So far provincial capitals have remained under government control.
Under a deal with the Taliban, the US and its Nato allies agreed to withdraw all troops in return for a commitment by the militants not to allow any extremist group to operate in the areas they control.
But the Taliban did not agree to stop fighting Afghan forces, whose ability to hold off the insurgents is being questioned.