Seizure of Herat marks biggest prize yet for Taliban, which has captured 11 provincial capitals in blitz before end of US mission

Biden officials privately expressing surprise over how easily Islamist militia sweeping through several key cities after US spent billions to train and equip country's army

With capture of Badakhshan, Baghlan and Farah capitals, Islamist militia now controls of two-thirds of nation as US and NATO finalize their withdrawal after decades of war

After group captures 7 of 34 provincial capitals, US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad tells insurgents a military takeover of Kabul would guarantee international isolation

No injuries reported as 3 projectiles strike Kabul; no group takes responsibility for attack on city, the first since Taliban began offensive amid foreign troop withdrawal

Insurgent group claims to control 85% of the country as the US accelerates final pullout, set to be completed by August 31

Zebulon Simentov endured Soviet invasion, civil war, Taliban rule and the US takeover, but now he says the dangers are too great and it is time to leave

Top US diplomat urges sides to speed up talks; no breakthrough in negotiations, but official says a break in the deadlock is 'very close'

Some local authorities say Husam Abd al-Rauf shot dead during raid on Taliban outpost last week, providing few details; incident complicates US efforts to withdraw from country

Discussions are latest in a flurry of diplomatic activity by the Trump administration ahead of the US presidential election in November