Claims that "Taliban" Controls 90% of the Border Refuted

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The Afghan Ministry of Defense described the "Taliban's" declaration of taking over 90% of the Afghan border as a complete lie.

The Spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense said that the "Taliban's" declaration of its control of the borders is unfounded propaganda, stressing that the government forces are still in control of the country's borders and all the major cities and highways.

Earlier, Reuters had quoted Afghan and US officials as saying that the Afghan government would cede to the Taliban the areas it had recently seized as part of a new strategy to protect the other vital and strategic areas and institutions.

The agency had also quoted US intelligence officials as saying that the Afghan government will fall within six months.

In the meantime, the "Taliban" Spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, who is also a member of the group’s negotiating team, confirmed that the "Taliban" managed to seize those areas as a result of talks, and not fighting.

He said, "We do not believe in the monopoly of power because any governments who (sought) to monopolize power in Afghanistan in the past, were not successful governments. So we do not want to repeat that same formula."

He continued to say, "They don’t want reconciliation, but they want surrendering. They want, 'come and have a ceasefire and we will continue our government as it is.' That is also not a realistic approach, not a pragmatic approach. Those districts which have fallen to us and the military forces who have joined us... were through mediation of the people, through talks. They (did not fall) through fighting."

"It would have been very hard for us to take 194 districts in just eight weeks," he added. 

 He gave this statement after the "Taliban" Movement declared yesterday, Thursday, controlling 90% of Afghanistan's borders with the neighboring countries.

In response to the Afghan and Tajikistan governments' denial of the movement's 80% control over the borders between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, the "Taliban" Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said, "90% of the borders of Afghanistan with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Pakistan are under our control…"

The "Taliban" had published footage showing its control over the largest military base in Zabul Province after it announced its control over Badghis District.

Meanwhile, the "Taliban" Spokesman said that the Movement would not allow any Turkish military forces in Afghanistan, demanding their withdrawal since Turkey is a NATO member after the Turkish suggested securing the Kabul airport following the withdrawal of the foreign forces.

These developments come in the backdrop of the US military's announcement that it has completed 90% of its withdrawal from Afghanistan, knowing that Washington had promised to complete the withdrawal in the coming September.