Afghan president addresses nation as Taliban close in on Kabul

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said the country is in serious danger of instability, while adding that he will not give up the “achievements” of the last 20 years. In a televised address on Satuday, Ashraf Ghani said he was consulting with local leaders and international partners on the situation in the country. He said the remobilisation of the country's armed forces was a "top priority" and serious steps are being taken in this regard,"as Taliban terrorists inched closer to the capital after routing the country's defences over the past week."As your president, my focus is on preventing further instability, violence and displacement of my people," Ghani said. Ashraf Ghani’s last public appearance was on Wednesday in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, where the insurgents launched a multi-pronged attack early Saturday.

The Islamist insurgents captured all of Logar and detained its provincial officials, said Hoda Ahmadi, a lawmaker from the province, adding that the Taliban have reached the Char Asyab district, just 11 kilometres (7 miles) south of the capital, Kabul.The Taliban also attacked the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif from several directions, setting off heavy fighting on its outskirts, according to Munir Ahmad Farhad, a spokesman for the provincial governor.