Afghanistan war: Taliban capture three regional capitals

                                         map: BBC                               

BBC: "The Taliban have captured three regional capitals in Afghanistan as they continue to make sweeping territorial gains in the country. They seized control of the key northern city of Kunduz on Sunday, as well as Sar-e-Pul and Taloqan. It means five regional capitals have fallen to the militants since Friday, with Kunduz being their most important gain this year. [...] Violence has escalated across Afghanistan after US and other international forces began to withdraw their troops from the country, following 20 years of military operations."