Afghanistan: Biden says ‘No regret’ over withdrawal of US troops

The US President has encouraged the Afghan leaders to find common ground and ‘fight for their nation’. The president said: "They've got to fight for themselves."

Mr. Biden released a statement, saying the US has kept the commitments it made with Afghanistan, including providing close air support, paying military salaries and supplying Afghan forces with food and equipment.

Meanwhile the Taliban keep gaining ground in Afghanistan.

Earlier today, General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai, the army chief of staff, has been removed from his post.

According to Afghan local media, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has removed General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai as the army chief and he has been replaced by General Haibatullah Alizai.

The Taliban captured the ninth Afghan provincial capital taking hold of more than a quarter of country’s provincial capitals in less than a week.

According to Al-Jazeera, Badakhshan province’s capital Faizabad is the latest to fall to the group amid the US withdrawal.

The Taliban have now seized nine provincial capitals including Faizabad, Aybak, Pul-e-Khumri, Farah, Sar-e-Pul, Sheberghan, Kunduz, Zaranj and Taluqan.

Zabihullah Attiq, a local lawmaker, told the AFP news agency that security forces had retreated from the city after days of heavy clashes. “The Taliban have captured the city now,” he said.

The Afghan government and military have not commented on the matter as yet.