“NATO troops are now on the ground fighting with Afghan forces against the Taliban,” he said. Under the new rules, the number of airstrikes, which Afghan forces often credit with slowing Taliban advances, have increased significantly. But American ground forces have increasingly been in the line of fire this year, as reflected in the casualty reports. The haphazard nature of the Afghan forces’ defense against the Taliban was again on display after the fall of Khanabad district. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyThe district was quickly taken back by an array of Afghan forces, each led by a high-profile official.

Source: New York Times August 23, 2016 15:17 UTC