Afghanistan unprepared for Taliban onslaught, US ‘irresponsible,’ key warlord says

Ata Mohammad Noor is one of the powerhouse players in Afghanistan, which is entering what many fear will be a chaotic new chapter due to the final withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops.

Ata Mohammad Noor, who is among those behind the latest attempt to halt the Taliban advances by creating more militias, told The Associated Press that the Afghan military is badly demoralized. He said Washington’s quick exit left the Afghan military logistically unprepared for the Taliban onslaught. In an interview at his opulent home in Mazar-e-Sharif, the main city of the north, he said that even he had not expected the Taliban's rapid wins, particularly in nearby Badakhshan province in the country’s northeast corner. "It was surprising for me that in 24 hours, 19 districts of Badakhshan were surrendered without a fight," said Noor.