Reuters TV/via Reuters
Washington’s newly appointed adviser on Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, arrived in Kabul on Sunday as the Taliban launched a new offensive that left at least 10 Afghan policemen dead. Taliban militants reportedly destroyed several highway bridges in the central province of Wardak before moving in to attack checkpoints and set fire to at least one government building. The Afghan police were reportedly killed as they fought to stop Taliban militants from taking over part of the Sayeed Abad district. Khalilzad’s appointment last month marked new efforts by the Trump administration to convince the Taliban leadership of the need for peace talks to end the country’s 17-year war. Khalilzad reportedly met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday and is expected to meet with other top officials on Monday before traveling to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Qatar.