14 Years After U.S. Invasion, the Taliban Are Back in Control of Large Parts of Afghanistan

The Taliban have a significant footprint in Afghanistan, according to Bill Roggio, the editor of The Long War Journal, an online publication that is tracking Taliban control. Mr. Roggio has confirmed that about one-fifth of the country is controlled or contested by the Taliban, but based on his understanding of how the Taliban operate, he said, “they probably either control or heavily influence about a half of the country.”

Taliban fighters took control of Kondoz, a provincial

capital, in September and held it for over two weeks.

Kholm

Kondoz

Baghlan

The Taliban overran

Wardoj and Baharak

districts in early

October.

Kabul

Jalalabad

Herat

AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban took

control of Waygal

district in June.

Gardiz

Kandahar

Taliban-controlled districts

Contested districts

100 miles

Kholm

Kondoz

Baghlan

Kabul

Jalalabad

Herat

AFGHANISTAN

Gardiz

Kandahar

Taliban-controlled districts

Contested districts

100 miles

Kondoz

Kabul

Herat

AFGHANISTAN

Kandahar

Taliban-controlled districts

Contested districts

100 miles