Officials had largely assumed that the American diplomatic presence in Afghanistan would face a similar situation. But the Taliban advance has sowed doubts about whether U.S.-trained Afghan security forces can prevent a takeover of Kabul. James F. Jeffrey, the former American ambassador to Iraq, was prepared to shutter the embassy in Baghdad when troops left in 2011. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul should be ready to evacuate or reduce staffing to a bare minimum, said Mr. Jeffrey, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam. Mr. Jeffrey said the fate of the embassy in Kabul would hinge on whether the Taliban engage in peace talks with the Afghan government — negotiations that have foundered for more than a year.

Source: International New York Times July 12, 2021 20:37 UTC