Taliban capture Zabul province in Afghanistan: "Zabul is of strategic and military importance for a number of reasons. First, taking Zabul cuts off U.S. troops stationed to the south in Kandahar from the bulk of U.S. troops located to the north toward Kabul. Second, given that Helmand and Oruzgan provinces to the north of Zabul already are Taliban strongholds, the group can better try to isolate U.S. and local provincial troops in Kandahar and eventually attempt to retake Kandahar as well. Third, controlling Zabul gives the Taliban a way to cut lines of logistics, troop supply and communication between U.S. and coalition troops in Kandahar and in Paktika and Paktia provinces to the east and along the border with Pakistan."

Taliban capture Zabul province in Afghanistan: "Zabul is of strategic and military importance for a number of reasons. First, taking Zabul cuts off U.S. troops stationed to the south in Kandahar from the bulk of U.S. troops located to the north toward Kabul. Second, given that Helmand and Oruzgan provinces to the north of Zabul already are Taliban strongholds, the group can better try to isolate U.S. and local provincial troops in Kandahar and eventually attempt to retake Kandahar as well. Third, controlling Zabul gives the Taliban a way to cut lines of logistics, troop supply and communication between U.S. and coalition troops in Kandahar and in Paktika and Paktia provinces to the east and along the border with Pakistan."