Aug 8, 2021: Afghan forces and the Taliban are reportedly fighting fiercely in the center of the northern Afghanistan provincial capital of Kunduz. It follows significant gains made by the militant Islamist group over the past few days.

The Taliban’s advance on the provincial capital comes after two provincial capitals fell to the group in the past two days.

Afghanistan’s armed forces and the Taliban were fighting fiercely Sunday in the center of Kunduz, city officials said.

The Taliban announced on Twitter that: “Mujahideen have reached the city’s central roundabout.”

#عاجل
تم تحرير جميع أجزاء مدينة قندوز والسجن المركزي، والمجاهدون الآن وصلوا إلى الدوار المركزي بالمدينة.
كما استولى المجاهدون على أعداد كبيرة من المدرعات والآليات والأسلحة والتجهيزات العسكرية.
ويواصل المجاهدون تقدما سريعا نحو مقر الولاية، والمطار، وبقية المراكز والمنشآت الحكومية.

— الإمارة الإسلامية (@alemara_ar) August 8, 2021

The Taliban reportedly seized a large number of armored vehicles, vehicles, weapons and military equipment, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said.

“The Mujahideen continue to advance rapidly towards the state headquarters, the airport and the rest of the government’s centers and facilities,” it added.

Earlier, the Taliban seized the northern city of Sheberghan on Saturday. Sheberghan is the capital of Jowzjan Province and is home to Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum.

Dostum, who is allied with the United States, said he is calling for reinforcements from the Afghanistan government and it’s likely that Dostum’s forces will wage a “counteroperation” in the coming days.

Taliban fighters helped free prisoners from the city’s jail, according to videos on social media.

The Taliban are ramping up their offensive, as the US and NATO allies pull out troops from the country. The Taliban captured the provincial capital of Zaranj in southwestern Nimroz province on Friday meanwhile a bomb killed an Afghan Air Force pilot in Kabul on Saturday, with the Taliban claiming responsibility for the attack.

President Joe Biden announced in April that he would withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by September 11. The pulllout is now expected to be fully complete by August 31, according to recent statements from the commander-in-chief.