Instead, there is a widespread anxiety about what the true shape of Taliban rule will be with the Americans truly gone. The United States’ conflict in Afghanistan was a long war with a quick end, or so it seemed. By the time President Biden and NATO announced in April the withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces by Sept. 11, the Taliban were already taking district after district. The Afghan security forces were surrendering or being cut down in droves. But in the final days, the Afghan security forces totaled around just one-sixth of that, according to U.S. officials.

Source: International New York Times August 30, 2021 23:03 UTC