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Capture of Zaranj
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Capture of Zaranj
The capture of Zaranj, the capital of Nimruz Province, Afghanistan, by the Taliban occurred on 6 August 2021. According to local officials, only the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and its forces had put up a fight against the Taliban, but they too eventually surrendered to the Taliban. Local officials had been requesting reinforcements but received no response. Zaranj was the first provincial capital to be taken by the Taliban in their 2021 offensive and the first one to be captured since Kunduz in 2016.
The Taliban faced little to no resistance while capturing the city of Zaranj. The Afghan government officials and security forces either surrendered or fled to Iran or neighbouring Afghan provinces.
Zaranj had minimal government presence prior to its capture by the Taliban and had never been the target of international military operations. Due to lack of security it was Afghanistan's migrant hub and smuggling center with frequent kidnappings. The government did not have much power inside Zaranj and no presence outside of it in 2017.
Simultaneously with the withdrawal of most United States troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban had increased the intensity of their offensive in Afghanistan, taking at least 50 districts in May and June 2021. It seemed like the Taliban were capturing districts around provincial capitals, preparing to capture them once foreign forces left. In Zimruz province, Chakhansur District and Delaram District were captured close to the Taliban's preexisting strength in Khash Rod District.
Local leaders had been requesting reinforcements without a response for over a week. The army division responsible for defending the area, the 215th corps of the Afghan National Army, decided to focus on defending Lashkargah, capital of Helmand Province, leaving Zaranj weakly defended and vulnerable.
On 5 August 2021, Kang District close to the city was captured, prompting a flight of government officials from the city and a lowering of morale of the Afghan government forces. An alleged executing of 30 soldiers by the Taliban after taking Kang District might also have reduced morale. Lack of attention from the central government lowered morale further. The night before the capture, an estimated 20,000 Nimruz Province residents fled across the border to Iran.
Some officials said a deal had been struck with the Taliban, letting officials flee to Iran with their families. The head of the provincial council responded, saying officials decided to leave to minimize civilian casualties, denying the making of a deal with the Taliban.
There was little resistance to the Taliban attack when they arrived around 2:00 pm on August 6. Fighting was brief; without reinforcements from the central government, government forces fought for two to three hours before retreating to the district center of Chahar Burjak District to the south, the last district in the province under government control. Fighting was concentrated by the governor's office and local police and intelligence headquarters. Only the National Directorate of Security and its forces put up a fight against the Taliban.
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Capture of Zaranj
The capture of Zaranj, the capital of Nimruz Province, Afghanistan, by the Taliban occurred on 6 August 2021. According to local officials, only the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and its forces had put up a fight against the Taliban, but they too eventually surrendered to the Taliban. Local officials had been requesting reinforcements but received no response. Zaranj was the first provincial capital to be taken by the Taliban in their 2021 offensive and the first one to be captured since Kunduz in 2016.
The Taliban faced little to no resistance while capturing the city of Zaranj. The Afghan government officials and security forces either surrendered or fled to Iran or neighbouring Afghan provinces.
Zaranj had minimal government presence prior to its capture by the Taliban and had never been the target of international military operations. Due to lack of security it was Afghanistan's migrant hub and smuggling center with frequent kidnappings. The government did not have much power inside Zaranj and no presence outside of it in 2017.
Simultaneously with the withdrawal of most United States troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban had increased the intensity of their offensive in Afghanistan, taking at least 50 districts in May and June 2021. It seemed like the Taliban were capturing districts around provincial capitals, preparing to capture them once foreign forces left. In Zimruz province, Chakhansur District and Delaram District were captured close to the Taliban's preexisting strength in Khash Rod District.
Local leaders had been requesting reinforcements without a response for over a week. The army division responsible for defending the area, the 215th corps of the Afghan National Army, decided to focus on defending Lashkargah, capital of Helmand Province, leaving Zaranj weakly defended and vulnerable.
On 5 August 2021, Kang District close to the city was captured, prompting a flight of government officials from the city and a lowering of morale of the Afghan government forces. An alleged executing of 30 soldiers by the Taliban after taking Kang District might also have reduced morale. Lack of attention from the central government lowered morale further. The night before the capture, an estimated 20,000 Nimruz Province residents fled across the border to Iran.
Some officials said a deal had been struck with the Taliban, letting officials flee to Iran with their families. The head of the provincial council responded, saying officials decided to leave to minimize civilian casualties, denying the making of a deal with the Taliban.
There was little resistance to the Taliban attack when they arrived around 2:00 pm on August 6. Fighting was brief; without reinforcements from the central government, government forces fought for two to three hours before retreating to the district center of Chahar Burjak District to the south, the last district in the province under government control. Fighting was concentrated by the governor's office and local police and intelligence headquarters. Only the National Directorate of Security and its forces put up a fight against the Taliban.
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