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The Taliban now control a provincial capital city in Afghanistan. This is the first time since 2001. There were not enough Afghan soldiers in the city of Zaranj to fight them. The Taliban said it was an important day. This victory will help Taliban fighters in other provinces. It said: "This is just the beginning. Other provinces will fall into our hands." There is heavy fighting in other cities. The Taliban may soon fight for the nation's capital Kabul.
US-led forces beat the Taliban in 2001. Western countries spent 20 years training the Afghan army and police to keep the country safe. However, the Taliban never gave up fighting. The USA and UK are now pulling their soldiers out of Afghanistan after 20 years. The United Nations says the fighting has entered "a new, deadlier, and more destructive phase". It warned that the country was heading for disaster.
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