The Taliban has managed to capture nine provincial capitals in Afghanistan in just six days as U.S.-led foreign forces complete their withdrawal from the beleaguered South Asian country. “Unfortunately, after hours of heavy fighting, the ANDSF [Afghan National Security Forces] retreated,” said Jawad Mujadidi, a provincial council member from Badakhshan. “With the fall of Faizabad the whole of the northeast has come under Taliban control,” he added. Mujadidi said Taliban fighters laid siege to Faizabad before launching an offensive. The group now controls some two-thirds of the nation, with an offensive that started on Aug. 6 in Zaranj, the capital of Nimruz Province, which became the first provincial capital the group seized. Wednesday’s loss of Faizabad, the 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. Badakhshan borders Tajikistan, Pakistan, and China. The Taliban capture came as President …