The United States pays billions every year toward the Afghan budget, including the country's defense forces. The political turmoil has put on hold the start of intra-Afghan peace talks that would include the Taliban. Those talks are seen as a critical next step in the peace deal, negotiated to allow the United States to bring home its troops and give Afghans the best chance at peace. “We are in a crisis," a State Department official told reporters accompanying Pompeo. The U.S. and NATO have already begun to withdraw some troops from Afghanistan.

Source: International New York Times March 23, 2020 10:30 UTC