Ex-Afghan leader Hamid Karzai says he invited the Taliban insurgents into the capital Kabul on August 15 so that "the city doesn't fall into chaos," following a covert departure of Ashraf Ghani and his team from the country.
The wealthy Gulf country will continue to be an interlocutor between Western capitals and the Taliban - and potentially one of the first countries to recognise the government.
The US president said that some soldiers could remain past the August 31 deadline to ensure all Americans get out.
Clashes between the Taliban and government forces have intensified as US and NATO forces leave the country. The Taliban have encircled several provincial capitals, and captured several districts and border crossings in the north and west.
President Joe Biden offers commitment to Afghan leaders Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, but made clear he was not planning to slow the US troop withdrawal.
As a Taliban offensive spreads across Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani will be hoping for a significant commitment of aid post troop withdrawal with Joe Biden expected to pressure the Afghan leader to strike a deal with the insurgents.
The Afghan Taliban said they are committed to peace talks as officials raised concerns over the stalling negotiations between the militants and government representatives in Qatar ahead of foreign troops' withdrawal in September.
Just six weeks before a deadline for the US to pull out troops that have been in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years, Washington sent a senior official for the first time to participate in regional peace talks convened by Russia.
The US Secretary of State’s ultimatum to President Ashraf Ghani underscored a blatant disregard for democracy in Afghanistan.
Russia, Iran and Pakistan could easily undercut US designs in Afghanistan unless they are made a part of the process.
The incoming president should make America's longest war his first foreign policy priority.
At least 14 civilians have been killed by a roadside bomb in central Afghanistan, officials say.
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