The Graphic Truth: Who controls Afghanistan?

The Taliban have made massive territorial gains in Afghanistan since the Biden administration announced that it would withdraw all US forces by September of this year. In many instances, Afghan security forces have abandoned their bases and handed over territory rather than confront Taliban fighters directly. Recently, Taliban militants gained control of major crossings, including the Islam Qala crossing between Afghanistan and Iran, which generates $20 million in monthly revenue for the Afghan government, as well as the critical Wesh-Chaman border crossing with Pakistan. With the US withdrawal already more than 90 percent complete, the Taliban already control more than half of all Afghan districts. So as the last few US forces prepare to leave, we take a look at who controls what in Afghanistan. Spoiler: it's a significantly different state of play from when we last mapped it out two years ago.

More from GZERO Media

President Donald Trump talks to the media next to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, with a Tesla car in the background, at the White House on March 11, 2025.

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Elon Musk may have a big day ahead. On Friday, according to the New York Times, he’ll be made privy to war plans for a US military conflict with China. But President Donald Trump has denied that Musk will be briefed on China during his visit.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon smiles during the signing event for an executive order to shut down the Department of Education next to U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, March 20, 2025.
REUTERS/Carlos Barria

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday stripping away much of the Department of Education, but he stopped short of dismantling it completely. On Friday, he announced that the federal student loan portfolio and the department’s “special needs” programs were being moved to other federal agencies.

Canadian PM Mark Carney
Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Reuters

The countdown is on! At noon on Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to dissolve parliament and send voters into an election campaign that promises to be one of the most consequential — and hotly contested — in recent history.

Human rights activists hold a placard reading 'Military is a Killer of Women' during Aksi Kamisan, or Thursday's Protest, in front of the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 20, 2025.
Afriadi Hikmal/NurPhoto via Reuters

Indonesian activists are protesting a new law allowing active-duty military members to serve an expanded role in the civilian government — a move they warn could bring back the days of military repression under strongman leader Suharto.

Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas arrives at the Consilium building in Brussels, Belgium, on March 20, 2025.
Aleksy Witwicki/Sipa USA

Though European leaders have been excluded from Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Ukraine, meetings on Thursday in Brussels and London aimed to demonstrate Europe’s continuing commitment to supply Ukraine with the weapons it needs to repel Russian invaders.

The BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt unites leaders and experts from business, politics, science, and civil society to tackle some of today's most pressing challenges. With our partners and a global network of over 2,600 members, we collaborate to advance solutions in our focus areas – energy transition and climate change, urbanization and infrastructure, and education and qualification. Learn more about how we create a positive dynamic that strengthens an innovative and responsible economy while also promoting an open-minded and future-proof society here.