As the Taliban offensive is escalating in Afghanistan with the insurgents reaching a few metres away from Kabul, sources said the rented premises housing the Indian consulates have been locked by the insurgents, claiming security reasons. “The Taliban, after taking over Kandahar city, put a lock on our rented Consulate premises there, claiming that it was being done as a security measure and will be opened when a responsible person (Indian) comes. Likewise, the owner of our consulate premises in Herat received a call from the Taliban to come to the building with keys,” a source said. The Taliban captured Asadabad, the provincial capital of Kunar; Sharan, the provincial capital of Paktika; and Gardez, the provincial capital of Paktia, taking the number of Provincial capitals under its control to 20 out of 34. Another Afghan delegation under Abdullah Abdullah would visit Doha.

Source: Hindustan Times August 14, 2021 17:37 UTC