As the Taliban retake power, the imminent 20th anniversary of 9/11 underlines the horrific consequences of the US failing to reckon with this region's darkest forces

President says US forces will remain on the ground until last Americans are retrieved from Taliban-controlled country

Educated young women, former military translators and other at-risk Afghans seek to flee; 'If we don’t sort this out, we’ll literally be condemning people to death,' warns activist

Prime minister to make snap 48-hour trip to US due to COVID precautions; premier says visit will focus on Iran, but White House says sides will discuss Palestinian issue too

US president and UK leader announce a virtual summit of the G7 leaders next week on the Taliban's surprise seizure of power

'The process could have been handled so differently,' senior officer says of State Department's costly delay in setting up ad hoc structure to withdraw US allies to safety

White House says there was no avoiding harrowing scenes that followed its withdrawal announcement, but critics argue US chose to give up, that it set tone for Afghan gov't collapse

Merkel says US-led operation achieved less than planned, lamenting that soldiers seemingly died in vain; candidate to replace her calls operation 'biggest debacle' in NATO history

Amid chaos following Taliban sweep to victory, US president says he 'stands squarely behind' pull-out decision, lamenting that Afghans lacked will to determine their own future

US national security adviser, blaming Afghans' unwillingness to fight, says the country fell faster than expected