Life in Herat city restarts under Taliban rule

HERAT: A Taliban fighter said Saturday offices would reopen and work would return to "normal" in Afghanistan's second largest city of Herat after it was captured by the insurgents.

After seizing Herat earlier this week, insurgents were seen gathered outside the provincial governor Abdul Saboor Qani's compound and some in the city were brandishing Taliban flags.

Qani surrendered when the Taliban seized the city but was later released. His current whereabouts are unknown.

The Taliban have made major advances in recent days, capturing Herat and Kandahar.

They now control 19 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, after seizing two more on Saturday.

They've approached the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital Kabul while also launching a multi-pronged assault on the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghan officials said.