Taliban's strategy switch is in response to US strikes: Report

 The Taliban is stepping up its attack on provincial cities in response to the increasing airstrikes by the US as fighting has escalated in Herat, Lashkar Gah and Kandahar, according to a report on Friday. Reuters spoke to three Taliban commanders, one of whom said that they will soon capture other cities.

Experts have said the loss of Kandahar and Herat, Afghanistan's second- and third-largest cities by population, would be a major blow to the government. According to them, it could potentially trigger major realignments in favour of the Taliban.

"Mullah Yaqoob argued that when the US didn't fulfil their commitment why should Taliban be made to follow the accord?" one of the commanders, based in Kandahar, told Reuters on the condition of anonymity. The commander was referring to the Taliban's military chief.

"Mullah Yaqoob has decided to capture Kandahar and Herat and now Helmand and then it could be Kunduz, Khost or any other province," the commander said.

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According to Reuters, the commander also said that Yaqoob’s arguments had won over the group's political office. "The operations in Kandahar and Herat are very much important to us and our priority is to capture the two crucial airports or airbases in Kandahar and Herat,” the Taliban commander in Kandahar said.

Resource: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/talibans-strategy-switch-is-in-response-to-us-strikes-report-101628218488258-amp.html