The Taliban, in a statement, said that they were in negotiations with the government and would not take the capital by force. The Afghan government had no immediate public response. As Taliban forces set their sights on Kabul, the U.S. faces a harsh reality check: Its two-decade effort to turn Afghanistan’s military into an effective fighting force has been an abject failure. These maps show the stunning speed of the Taliban advance after the U.S. began to withdraw in May. The Taliban’s military campaign has spurred a mass exodus, and many Afghans fear a return to extremist rule.

Source: International New York Times August 15, 2021 10:54 UTC