Fighting in Afghanistan escalates as US and Taliban ‘close to deal’
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The US is “at the threshold of an agreement” with the Taliban, the US envoy in Afghanistan has said. But the militant Islamist group has stepped up assaults on cities in an apparent attempt to strengthen its hand.
Taliban fighters have attacked the strategic northern Afghan city of Kunduz, setting off a major battle with security forces.
The governments say its air strikes have slowed down the militants, who entered the city from four directions.
But the militants have not retreated from their positions, reports say.
Reports say at least three civilians and dozens of fighters died. At least another 10 people were killed when a suicide bomber targeted city police.
On Sunday, Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad was en route to Kabul to brief the Afghan government on Sunday, after ending marathon talks with the Taliban in Qatar.
It is not clear what form the deal would take, but US President Donald Trump has said previously he would like to withdraw most of the 14,000 US soldiers still stationed in the country.
The militant Islamist group, which ruled most of the country until the US-led war began in 2001, has reasserted its power in the last few years and now controls around half of Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s renewed attacks have been seen as an attempt to strengthen its hand at the negotiating table as the NATO mission Resolute Support continues.
