Aug 14 Taliban capture major northern city, approach Afghan capital By Associated Press The fall of Mazar-e-Sharif, the country's fourth largest city, which Afghan forces and two powerful former warlords had pledged to defend, hands the insurgents control over all of northern Afghanistan, confining the Western-backed government to the center and east. Continue reading
Aug 13 Watch 4:50 Taliban closes in on Afghan capital as U.S. forces arrive to speed withdrawal UN leaders warn Afghanistan faces a humanitarian tragedy as Taliban forces race across the country. Meanwhile thousands of U.S. troops arrived to help speed up efforts to withdraw from the war-ravaged nation. Continue watching
Aug 13 Afghan women fear return to ‘dark days’ amid Taliban sweep By Zeina Karam, Ahmad Seir, Associated Press The Taliban's lightning advance across Afghanistan has stirred fears they will reimpose their fundamentalist interpretation of Islam and all but eliminate women's rights. Continue reading
Aug 13 WATCH: U.S. rushes in troops to speed up evacuations in Afghanistan By Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press Three thousand fresh U.S. troops were rushing to Kabul to speed evacuation flights for some American diplomats and thousands of Afghans, as the Taliban pressed a lightning offensive that has captured much of the country. Continue reading
Aug 13 Taliban sweep across Afghanistan’s south, take 4 more cities By Tameem Akhgar, Rahim Faiez, Joseph Krauss, Associated Press The Taliban completed their sweep of the country's south on Friday as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war. Continue reading
Aug 12 Watch 6:13 ‘Shock’ and anger across Afghanistan as Taliban blitz through cities People in Afghanistan are in disbelief and angry at their local leaders as the Taliban advances across the nation, reports special correspondent Jane Ferguson. Fergson spoke with William Brangham about how quickly security forces in the region collapsed after the… Continue watching
Aug 12 UK to send 600 troops to Kabul to help nationals leave By Associated Press In a statement, the defense ministry said the troops will provide protection and logistical support for the relocation of British nationals where required. Around 4,000 British nationals are believed to be in Afghanistan. Continue reading
Aug 12 Taliban take another Afghan provincial capital, Kandahar By Tameen Akhgar. Associated Press and Rahim Faiez, Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Afghan officials say the Taliban have taken another provincial capital, the southern city of Kandahar in the province with the same name. Continue reading
Aug 12 Taliban take Afghanistan’s third-largest city in onslaught By Tameem Akhgar, Rahim Faiez, Jon Gambrell, Associated Press The latest advance further squeezed the country's embattled government just weeks before the end of the American military mission there. The seizure of Herat on Thursday marks the biggest prize yet for the Taliban. Continue reading
Aug 11 Watch 8:34 The Taliban now control two-thirds of Afghanistan. How did it happen so quickly? The Taliban on Wednesday seized three more Afghan provincial capitals and a local military headquarters in northern Afghanistan. The insurgents now hold some two-thirds of the nation as the U.S. and NATO finalize their withdrawal after decades of war. Bill… Continue watching