Washington’s ill-planned approach strengthened the Taliban insurgency. Now, Kabul risks doing the same to Daesh-K.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Milley both testified at the US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Afghanistan.
World leaders and senior officials condemn the two suicide bombings that targeted thousands of desperate people fleeing the Taliban takeover, with further attempted attacks expected ahead of Tuesday deadline for foreign troops to leave.
The US has called for a ceasefire, accusing Taliban of potential war crimes, but the insurgents are now focused on capturing key provincial capitals after taking control of much of rural Afghanistan.
Over 200 Afghans, mostly former interpreters who worked with the American government during its twenty-year occupation of Afghanistan, landed for resettlement in the US on Friday.
The incident comes a day after the Afghanistan government said it repelled a Taliban assault on the key border crossing with Pakistan amid the militants' sweeping advance.
Thousands of Afghans have left behind escalating violence to seek shelter elsewhere in the country amid ongoing withdrawal of US and NATO troops.
The US president plans to pull out all American forces – numbering 2,500 now – by this September 11, the anniversary of the attacks, which were coordinated from Afghanistan.
US government watchdog says only $1.2B out of $7.8B spent on buildings and cars in Afghanistan since 2008 has been used as intended and just $343.2 million worth of such assets “were maintained in good condition”.
If he loses the ruling, Julian Assange is likely to appeal to London’s High Court and the case could go the UK Supreme Court, further delaying the final outcome.
The Taliban is expected to discuss these terms with US negotiators in Doha, two sources said. If such an agreement is reached, it will revive hopes for a long-term solution to the war in Afghanistan.
"In the past few days, some media have been releasing untrue reports about a ceasefire... The fact is that, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has no ceasefire plans," the Taliban said in a statement.
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