U.S. Vow of Early Afghan Exit Raises Threat of Resurgent Taliban

  • Militant attacks make President Ghani’s grip on power shaky
  • Taliban increased violence nationwide since peace talks began
Photographer: Victor J. Blue
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Afghanistan’s government is struggling to maintain its grip on power after President Donald Trump’s decision to accelerate U.S. troop withdrawal from the war-torn nation emboldened the Taliban and other militant groups.

The United Nations has noted a dramatic surge in violence since Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani’s government and the Taliban began peace talks in September, ranging from attacks on Afghan army bases to attempts to capture key cities including Kandahar. Terrorists have launched assaults on Kabul University and other educational centers, killing dozens of students and on Saturday, unknown assailants fired a deadly barrage of rockets that struck residential areas in the capital.