More than 300 Afghans flee into Tajikistan as Taliban advances | Al Jazeera

At least 347 refugees from Afghanistan have crossed into the Central Asian country of Tajikistan over two days, fleeing sweeping gains by Taliban fighters as foreign forces withdraw.

State information agency Khovar, citing Tajikistan border guards, said on Wednesday the refugees “fled from the Taliban to save their lives”, adding two babies died during the border crossing.

The fighters in recent weeks have brought huge swaths of the country under their control as foreign troops draw down.

In June, they seized Afghanistan’s main Shir Khan Bandar border crossing with Tajikistan in the far north of Afghanistan about 50km (30 miles) from Kunduz city.

On Wednesday, they claimed to have taken the strategic border crossing of Spin Boldak on the frontier with Pakistan.

The Afghan interior ministry, however, insisted the armed group’s attack was repelled and government forces had control.