Taliban order fighters out of Afghan homes they took over

By SAMYA KULLAB
Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The head of the Taliban government has ordered the group’s fighters to leave private homes they had taken over as they blitzed across Afghanistan in August. The order follows public statements by Taliban officials hinting at plans to improve organization and marshal fighters. Meanwhile, the regional chief for the International Federation of the Red Cross said during a press conference in Kabul on Thursday that Afghanistan risks sliding into a deep “major humanitarian crisis” with the coming winter and severe financial shortfalls. Also in Kabul, Taliban fighters dispersed with gunfire a small protest of women demanding equal rights to education.