News reports have been pouring from various parts of Afghanistan claiming that thousands of people have vowed to take up arms against the Taliban even as the latter capture new territories. [https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-173442]

While the public that wants to take up arms has been complaining that the Afghan government not supporting them with weapons, the Taliban have been displaying truckloads of guns and military hardware that they have captured from the Afghan military.

These include guns, army pickup trucks, and others. While the advancing Taliban have captured many districts across Afghanistan, the well-oiled fighting machine that the Afghan military was supposed to be is hardly anywhere on the scene. Many soldiers have surrendered without a fight. [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/taliban-parade-new-weapons-seized-afghan-military-u-s-withdraws-n1273081]

While some blame poor training, low morale, and the overwhelming power of the Taliban as the reasons for the defeat of the armed forces in many districts, Afghan government officials are not so pessimistic.

For instance, First Vice President Amrullah Saleh has been quoted in the Afghan news channel Tolo News that the Taliban has captured territory because of the "sudden gaps" after the foreign forces started withdrawing from Afghanistan. [https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-173458]

Saleh has said that the Taliban could capture new territories as Afghan forces were weak in many places while strong in a few locations. That would change if they advance to Afghan forces' stronger areas.

In the meantime, the Taliban has intensified attacks on Ghazni and Kandahar, two of the most important provincial capitals of significant importance. Afghan forces are also fighting back in these two locations. [https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-173468] The results of these two battles may decide where exactly the Afghan military stands.

Read more:

Afghanistan: two decades of Nato help leaves a failed and fractured state:
https://theconversation.com/afghanistan-two-decades-of-nato-help-leaves-a-failed-and-fractured-state-on-the-brink-of-civil-war-164206

Some news of the Afghan military fighting back:
https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-army-fights-back-against-230712426.html

How capable is the Afghan army?
https://eurasiantimes.com/afghan-army-to-launch-a-fierce-counter-offensive-against-rapidly-progressing-taliban-nsa/