Days after the Taliban captured several key districts in northern Afghanistan in a lightning offensive, locals and former mujahideen commanders, in a seemingly new development in a socially volatile nation, are taking up arms against the Taliban in several provinces. 

In the last two months, the Taliban has captured around 33 districts in Afghanistan, including in the northern region which is not the Taliban’s traditional stronghold. As fear grows, from politicians to former commanders, all are arming people to defend their areas and support government security forces. 

People were already deployed in dozen of districts in Takhar, Balkh, and Baghlan in the north; Badghis in the west; Parwan in the central province. Two districts, in the last two days, were retaken from the Taliban in Takhar province. Around ten districts of the province have either fallen to the insurgent group or captured by them. 

Taliban, so far, has control over 33 district centers of over 400 districts in Afghanistan. Major cities, with big populations, are still under the control of the Afghan government. 

On Monday evening, Atta Muhamad Noor, a leading politician and former governor of Balkh province, has announced the start of armed operations against the Taliban from Tuesday. In the 90s, Noor was a key anti-Taliban commander and had played a crucial role in keeping small pockets of resistance against the Taliban. 

Noor said they would start "cleaning operations" in Balkh and other adjoining areas and will support security forces. 

(SAM)