Taliban making gains in Afghanistan Daily News (via HT Media Ltd.) The Taliban have seized dozens of districts in recent weeks and are now thought to control about a third of the country, making new gains on a daily basis. So far provincial capitals have remained under government control. The Taliban has been making gains as the US and allies pull out. On Wednesday, the Taliban entered Qala-e-Naw, the first direct attack on a provincial capital since Washington began pulling out its last troops. The vast majority of remaining foreign forces in Afghanistan have left ahead of September 11 deadline, leaving the Afghan military completely in charge of national security. Under a deal with the Taliban, the US and its NATO allies agreed to withdraw all troops in return for a commitment by the militants that they will prevent extremist groups from operating in areas they control. But the Taliban did not agree to stop fighting Afghan forces, whose ability to hold off the insurgents is being questioned. Military officials in Kabul have talked about “tactical retreat” whenever insurgents make gains, but commanders in the battlefield said about a lack of ammunition, and delays in sending support.