Afghan civilians forced to fight Taliban as foreign troops depart

Violence is spiralling with militants seizing at least 50 of county's nearly 400 districts since May

Haji Ghoulam Farouq Siawshani watched the Taliban rampage across northern Afghanistan this month, weighing up the threat from militants on his doorstep. Then, 10 days ago, the former oil trader turned militia commander issued a call to arms.

Where the Taliban go, they bring destruction, and they are one kilometre away from my village," he told the Guardian. We decided to respond."