Afghan turmoil builds as US withdrawal reaches 95% mark

Taliban offensive, kidnapping and attack on presidential palace punctuate turbulent week

20210720N Afghan soldier

An Afghan policeman keeps watch at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Kabul. © Reuters

WAJAHAT KHAN, Nikkei staff writer

NEW YORK -- It was a grueling weekend for Zalmay Khalilzad.

The Biden administration's 70-year-old point man for stabilizing Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal had seen his monthslong efforts almost pay off. The peace process between the Taliban and the Afghan government was back on track, though both sides had stopped short of a cessation of hostilities.

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