According to the US's defense officials' new assessment, the Taliban militants can isolate the capital Kabul in 30 days and could possibly take over the Capital in 90 days.

According to a senior EU official, the Taliban has taken over 65% of Afghanistan and taken control of 11 provincial capitals.

A US official said on the condition of anonymity, that the new assessment of how long Kabul could stand was a result of the rapid gains the Taliban had been making around the country as US-led foreign forces leave.

“But this is not a foregone conclusion,” the official added, saying that the Afghan security forces could reverse the momentum by putting up more resistance.

Wednesday’s loss of Faizabad, capital of the northeastern province of Badakhshan, was the latest setback for the Afghan government, which has been struggling to stem the momentum of Taliban assaults.

Jawad Mujadidi, a provincial council member from Badakhshan, said the Taliban had laid siege to Faizabad before launching an offensive on Tuesday.