President Biden defended his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan despite the Taliban gaining power and threatening the Afghan government.
About 1.8 million people have received the Purple Heart for being wounded or killed in combat. A recent recipient says many merit the award but feel their injuries were too minor to pursue it.
The beleaguered nation is seeing a surge. The lack of testing means it's difficult to know the extent. One doctor says his Facebook feed is 30% to 40% of notices about those who died of the virus.
Most of those who will be relocated are translators or interpreters and their families. "Those who helped us will not be left behind," President Biden said.
"Every day, you can see an increase in the Taliban's presence," an Afghan who worked with the U.S. tells NPR. "What am I going to do after September? ... Am I going to even be alive by December?"
The attack targeted workers clearing landmines with the HALO Trust charity. The militant Islamic State group claimed responsibility. Afghanistan is one of the world's most heavily mined countries.
As foreign troops withdraw, the Taliban have seized parts of Afghan highways and closed in on cities. One arms dealer in the country says they're even buying heavier weaponry.
In Afghanistan, Ralph "AK" Angkiangco was a medic with a Marine platoon that suffered terrible casualties. For years, the holiday was a time to drink and forget, not remember. This year is different.
Some Kabul residents fear a Taliban takeover. Others are eager for the departure of troops they see as foreign intruders. "Afghans will have to come together and listen to each other," says a cleric.
"Should we ask children to go to school when the schools are not safe for them? Can we do that?" asks an education activist. One wounded student says she wants to go back. "Continue school," she says.
Many of the victims were young students. No group has claimed responsibility. The U.S. and NATO are in the process of removing their troops from the country, raising fears of increased attacks.
A U.S.-backed conference with the Taliban and Afghan government was derailed, raising doubts about progresstoward a negotiated settlement to end decades of war in Afghanistan.
The order came Tuesday, amid concerns about heightened violence as U.S. and NATO troops depart Afghanistan. U.S. officials would not confirm the number of those leaving but insisted it would be small.
Afghans are coming forward to describe past alleged killings by Australian forces, as the Australian government launches investigations into its troops' suspected war crimes in Afghanistan.
Al-Qaida is degraded but not defeated. Analyst Colin Clarke assesses where the U.S. may be mapping out its future counterterrorism presence after withdrawing from Afghanistan.
