Amid Taliban Offensive, Afghan Civilians Are Taking Up Arms
- By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and
- Margot Buff
Taliban militants have seized dozens of districts across Afghanistan as fighting has surged in recent weeks. Civilians in some parts of the country have begun mobilizing into armed militias, vowing to fight alongside troops to keep the Taliban from taking more territory. The heightened conflict comes as the United States prepares to withdraw the last of its combat forces from Afghanistan this year.