KABUL, Afghanistan — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday visited the Gulf nation of Qatar, where he met with Afghan and Taliban negotiators who are trying to break a deadlock in their stalled peace negotiations. He landed hours after a deadly rocket attack in Kabul, the latest indication that violence is spiraling across Afghanistan even as peace talks continue. The rocket barrage slammed into the heart of Kabul, killing at least eight people and wounding more than two dozen. The troop withdrawal has sown uncertainly among Afghan officials, who are hoping for a policy change under Mr. Biden. Afghan security forces, still reliant on U.S. airstrikes, have struggled to defend territory from recent Taliban offensives.

Source: New York Times November 21, 2020 06:51 UTC