The Taliban movement continues to make significant gains throughout Afghanistan, the latest of which is its control of important crossings and ports to the country, especially one of the country’s main trade gates with Iran.

According to what was reported by the media on Saturday, the Taliban have taken control of Islam Qala in the western province of Herat, where the equivalent of millions of dollars in fuel and supplies crosses, a border gate with Iran.

It also took control of another border crossing on the border with Turkmenistan. The government says security forces are trying to retake these key areas.

However, the Taliban confirmed through its spokesman, Muhammad Naim, on Friday, that the movement now controls at least 85 percent of the country.

The broad advance of the Taliban on the ground, amid the US withdrawal from the country, comes after President Biden vigorously defended his decision to withdraw US forces and end America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan.

Biden said the decision was overdue, that America did not come here to build a country, and that it was up to the Afghan government and its security forces to defend its people.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the Taliban, who came to meet the Russian government in Moscow, gave a press conference, in which he said that humanitarian organizations must continue to work, that schools and hospitals must remain open, and that the border crossings and customs that have been seized will continue to operate.

He said: “We extend our hand to all countries and seek to encourage international cooperation and partnership, and we seek for all components of the Afghan people to participate in managing the country.”

He explained that “we did not pledge to Washington not to attack the state capitals in Afghanistan,” stressing that “if the Doha talks are successful, we will stop our attacks throughout Afghanistan.”

“We do not aim to usurp power in Afghanistan,” he said.

Afghanistan is witnessing an increased activity of the Taliban movement at the present time; As a result, it gained control of a large number of villages and neighborhoods, including 70 villages out of the 130 that make up the Sarobi area, 50 km east of the capital, Kabul, according to the local Tolo TV channel.

It is noteworthy that, with Qatari mediation, historic peace negotiations were launched in Doha on September 12, 2020, between the Afghan government and the Taliban movement, with the support of the United States, to end 42 years of armed conflict.

Before that, Qatar played the role of mediator in the negotiations between Washington and the Taliban, which resulted in the signing of a historic agreement in late February 2020, for a gradual US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the exchange of prisoners.