Situation worsens as Taliban make gains in Afghanistan

By Nathan Morley

The situation in Afghanistan is now desperate as Taliban forces have taken control nine of the country's 34 provincial capitals.

Even more shocking is that the Washington Post newspaper - citing unnamed officials - reports the capital Kabul could fall to the Taliban within the next three months.

In an attempt to rally troops, President Ghani has flown to Mazar-i-Sharif as Taliban militants close in on the city.

In Kunduz, hundreds of government soldiers have surrendered to the Taliban at the city's airport. At the same time, fighting continuing in other parts of the country.

Speaking to reporters, US President Joe Biden said he did not regret withdrawing troops from Afghanistan after 20 years but insisted the US was keeping the commitments it had made to the Kabul government.

A US-led military campaign began in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks but now most of the foreign troops have pulled out.

The UN says more than 1,000 civilians have been killed amid fighting between the Taliban and government forces in the past month.