Afghanistan updates: Taliban captures Mazar-e-Sharif after president addresses nation

Taliban advances closer to Kabul, taking all of Logar province, and captures Mazar-e-Sharif, as President Ashraf Ghani addresses the nation.

On the heels of the Afghan president's address to the nation, Taliban forces gained major ground Saturday while they advance toward the capital of Kabul. The anti-Taliban stronghold of Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, became the latest major city to fall, according to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid and the Associated Press, following an assault by insurgent forces Saturday. Earlier Saturday, the Taliban captured all of Logar province, just seven miles south of Kabul, where they have detained Logar officials and reached the Char Asyab district, the AP reported. Following the two advances, the Taliban now control 20 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, according to the AP.