Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times,

The Taliban terrorist group took a sixth provincial capital in about as many days in northern Afghanistan amid claims that government forces simply retreated without fighting.

Samangan's deputy provincial governor, Mohammad Dawood Kalakani, confirmed the takeover of Aybak, the capital, to international news outlets. Now, he said, the Taliban was "in full control" while a Taliban spokesman wrote that all government and police installations in Aibak were "cleared."

Abdalullah Mohammadi and Ziauddin Zia, two Samangan provincial lawmakers, were quoted by TOLO News on Monday that Afghan government forces retreated from Aybak without fighting.