Taliban fighters patrol in armored vehicles once supplied to Afghan forces, wearing American tactical gear and carrying American weapons. On one Humvee, a worn Green Bay Packers sticker was still visible — a remnant from its past operators. Pentagon figures show $7 billion in hardware and weaponry fell into Taliban hands when the Afghan National Army collapsed following the 2021 U.S. withdrawal.

A Taliban delegation has met in Brussels with European Union staff for closed-door talks focusing on deportations, according to a Taliban official.

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry says Afghans who helped the U.S. war effort and are stuck in Qatar can safely return home.

China’s government says Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed not to escalate their conflict and to “explore a comprehensive solution” after several weeks of cross-border fighting that has killed hundreds of people.

The Taliban have released a British couple held in Afghanistan for over seven months on undisclosed charges.