By Bond Robertson 
The Taliban took control of their second provincial capital in two days when they captured Sheberghan in Jawzjan province in northern Afghanistan on Saturday.
Provincial Council member Bismillah Sahel and Deputy Governor Abdul Qader confirmed the fall of the provincial capital.
Sahel says the Taliban have captured important public buildings such as the governor’s office, police station and prison in the city.
Videos on social media show prisoners escaping from prison with the help of Taliban fighters. Both criminals and Taliban prisoners were allowed to leave.
However, government forces still control the airport, as they prepare to defend themselves, according to Qader.
in the attack
The Taliban went on the offensive after the United States and NATO began withdrawing in May, and they now control large parts of Afghanistan. On Friday, they took control of the capital, Zarang, in Nimroz state, which collapsed “without a fight,” according to the deputy governor.
There was greater resistance in Shiberghan, which is inhabited by the damned warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum, but one of Dostum’s employees also asserts that the city has fallen.
Dostum led one of the largest militias in the north, which had gained a terrifying reputation for its fight against the Taliban, and was also accused of massacres of thousands of captives.
If his forces are overrun by the Taliban, it will be a severe blow to the government’s hope that the militias can provide important support to the government forces that are under severe pressure.
Jubel i Zaranj
Some posts on social media indicate that the Taliban were received in Zaranj by some residents of the city, who have long been notorious for their lawlessness.
Videos show reserved Humvees, luxury SUVs and vans driving up and down the main road with white Taliban flags, while local boys and men cheer.
Also in Zaranj, the first thing the Taliban did was open the prison and release the prisoners, both common criminals and Taliban prisoners.
Social media also showed looting of public buildings as people stole desks, office chairs, filing cabinets and TVs.
The Taliban already controls large parts of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province.
The Taliban’s siege of the country’s provincial capitals, including Lashkar Gah, Kandahar and Herat, also caused tens of thousands of people to flee.