Armed Afghan women take to the streets

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Women have taken up guns in northern and central Afghanistan, marching in the streets and sharing pictures of themselves with assault rifles on social media in a show of defiance as Taliban militants make sweeping gains nationwide, The Guardian reported.

One of the biggest demonstrations was held in central Ghor province, where hundreds of women turned out at the weekend, waving guns and chanting anti-Taliban slogans.

They are not likely to head to the frontlines in large numbers any time soon, because of both social conservatism and lack of experience. But the public demonstrations, at a time of urgent threat from the militants, are a reminder of how frightened many women are about what Taliban rule could mean for them and their families, the report said.

"There were some women who just wanted to inspire security forces, just symbolic, but many more were ready to go to the battlefields," said Halima Parastish, head of the women's directorate in Ghor and one of the marchers, adding: "That includes myself."

The Taliban has been sweeping across rural Afghanistan, taking dozens of districts, including in places such as northern Badakhshan province, which 20 years ago was an anti-Taliban stronghold.

In the areas they control, the Taliban militants have already brought in restrictions on women's education, their freedom of movement and their clothing, say activists and residents of those areas. In one area, flyers were circulating demanding that women put on burqas.

Taliban now claim to control 85 per cent of Afg

Islamist insurgents now claim to control 85 per cent of Afghanistan as the US-led mission draws to a close and Britain's military chief describes the situation as "pretty grim", Sky News reported. The report said that the insurgents have overrun areas bordering Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, China and Pakistan.

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