World U.S. 'Disappointed' In Afghan Leadership, Will Slash $1 Billion In Aid, Pompeo Says The secretary of state's announcement follows meetings in Kabul with Afghanistan's rivals to the presidency, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah. Pompeo said another $1 billion could be cut next year. Scott Neuman
World U.S. Launches 'Defensive Strike' At Taliban As Fragile Afghan Peace Deal Teeters The strike followed President Trump's call with the Taliban, during which he says they agreed "we don't want violence." Still, the group has led a wave of attacks since signing the landmark deal. Colin Dwyer
World U.S. Signs Peace Deal With Taliban After Nearly 2 Decades Of War In Afghanistan The agreement follows 18 months of negotiations and comes after a seven-day "reduction in violence" period in Afghanistan. Here's what to know about the agreement and what may come next. David Welna
World U.S., Afghanistan And Taliban Announce 7-Day 'Reduction In Violence' The quasi cease-fire was hammered out during protracted negotiations in Qatar that began in 2018 and could ultimately lead to a significant reduction in U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Scott Neuman Diaa Hadid
Politics U.S. Reaches 'Reduction In Violence' Deal With Taliban In Afghanistan The step is meant to serve as an initial confidence-building measure and would last for seven days. A more-formal agreement could be signed in the coming weeks. Laurel Wamsley
World U.S. Plane Goes Down In Afghanistan, Prompting Wave Of Questions, Contradictions A U.S. official tells NPR that two people died when the aircraft went down in Ghazni province. The official blamed mechanical problems — but the Taliban claim to have shot it down. Colin Dwyer
World Opinion: In Iran Crisis, Iraq And Afghanistan Risk Becoming Collateral Damage As this high-stakes situation plays out, the danger is that Iran's fragile neighbors, Iraq and Afghanistan, will become collateral damage, writes the head of the United States Institute of Peace. Nancy Lindborg
Politics Trump Announces Resumption Of Talks With Taliban During Surprise Visit To Afghanistan "The Taliban wants to make a deal," President Trump said during his trip to Bagram Airfield, where he met with U.S. troops. "If they do, they do, and if they don't, they don't. That's fine." Franco Ordoñez Colin Dwyer
World Taliban Release American And Australian Hostages In Exchange For 3 Militants American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks were abducted in 2016 from Kabul, where they taught at the American University. Three Taliban commanders held by the Afghan government were also freed. Laurel Wamsley Mark Katkov
Health Ghost Viruses And The Taliban Stand In The Way Of Wiping Out Polio The World Health Organization is celebrating the eradication of another strain of the polio virus. Yet major challenges remain in the global effort to get rid of the disease. Jason Beaubien
