Afghan soldiers have described carrying their wounded comrades across theborder to Tajikistan link after beingabandoned by their commanders linkthe Taliban seized a key border crossing.
The soldiers — part of a group of more than 1,000 who fled to Tajikistanlink when the insurgents took Shir KhanBandar at the end of June — were talking to AFP this week after beingflown back to Afghanistan link.
As they spoke the Taliban were making sweeping advances across Afghanistanlink, and now claim to be in controlof 85 percent of the country.
Their latest offensive started in early May as the United States and NATObegan the final troop withdrawal following a 20-year occupation sparked bythe September 11 attacks.
The Taliban and government were supposed to have agreed a political roadmapfor the country at peace talks in Doha, but they have largely fizzled outafter months of deadlock, and the insurgents appear now to have theirsights set on a military victory.
The Taliban advances have raised fears Afghan security forces may swiftlybecome demoralised without the vital air support provided by the Americans,and collapse.
Mehrullah, who like many Afghans uses only one name, was part of abattalion of around 1,000 soldiers defending the border crossing withTajikistan link near Kunduz city, inthe far north.
“We were under siege in Shir Khan Bandar for a week. Our supply route wascut off,” said the 27-year-old, who spoke of confusion and a lack ofcommunication between units on the ground.
*- ‘Forced to retreat’ -*
As the fighting intensified, Mehrullah said some commanderslink abandoned their positions, leavingthe foot soldiers little choice but to follow them.
“If there was proper coordination between the centre and the leadership ofthe port forces we would have fought the Taliban instead of retreating,” hesaid.
“We did not leave the port, but the commanderslink fled before the soldiers.”
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Ainuddin, another soldier, told how wounded troopslink were carried into Tajikistanlink by their comrades as the Talibantightened their noose around the border crossing.
Tajikistan link authorities said that1,037 Afghan government troops link hadcrossed into the former-Soviet country, and they had offered them sanctuaryand treated their wounds in order to “save their lives”.
“After the siege of the port and a big Taliban attack, they cut off allroads to Kunduz,” Mehrullah said.
“We were forced to retreat to the bridge and, after an hour of fighting, wecrossed into Tajikistan link.”
Afghan officials acknowledge supply lines are stretched and that they havelost territory to the Taliban, but say they are losing battles, not the war.
“There is war, there is pressure. Sometimes things are working our way.Sometimes they don’t,” said National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib.
Ainuddin said they were very well treated by Tajik officials, who fear aradical Islamic southern neighbour could foment unrest in its moderateMuslim population.
“They did everything they could for us, and after spending two days therewe were flown back to Kabul,” he said.
Both soldiers are now at a military base in the Afghan capital, and saythey are willing to rejoin the battle.
“We are ready to report back on duty wherever the government wants,” saidAinuddin.
