Pentagon acknowledges Taliban has ‘strategic momentum’ in Afghanistan

An internally displaced Afghan girl whose family fled their home due to fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel, eats bread (Rahmat Gul/AP)

The Taliban appears to have “strategic momentum” in the fight for control of Afghanistan as they put increasing pressure on key cities, setting the stage for a decisive period in coming weeks as American forces complete their withdrawal, the top US military officer said.

“This is going to be a test now of the will and leadership of the Afghan people — the Afghan security forces and the government of Afghanistan,” General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Pentagon press conference.