In Afghanistan, the Taliban have claimed to have reached at the out skirts of the second largest city Kandhar, strategically important as a leading trade hub after capturing Ghazni and Herat.

A Taliban spokesperson announced that Kandhar is completely under their control but it has not been confirmed.

The city of Qala-I-Naw has also fallen to the Taliban, who now control about a third of the country's regional cities and most of northern Afghanistan.

According to the BBC, thousands of civilians have been displaced, fleeing to Kabul to escape the fighting.

Meanwhile, the United States and Britain have announced to send thousands of troops to Afghanistan to help evacuate their nationals and local translators.