![The Afghan government's negotiations with the Taliban began in September last year [File: Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/6N0A0080.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
The warring sides meet in Doha on the second day of a three-day ceasefire to speed up stalled peace talks.
Taliban
![The three-day ceasefire announced by the Taliban and heeded by the government comes at a time when violence has sharply escalated across Afghanistan [File: Nasir Wakif/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2016-08-21T120000Z_2022266409_S1BETWREUSAA_RTRMADP_3_AFGHANISTAN-DISTRICT.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
Kandahar, Kunduz and Ghazni provinces were rocked by four separate bombings, killing at least 11 civilians.
![An Afghan National Army soldier stands guard at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Kabul [File: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-04-21T081525Z_622580081_RC280N974FEU_RTRMADP_3_USA-AFGHANISTAN-MILITARY.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
The temporary deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government follows a surge in violence in recent weeks.
![Afghan government forces have been struggling against stepped-up attacks by the Taliban [File: Mustafa Andaleb/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/a54a389a5b0c4228b148013c576cbbfb_18.jpeg?resize=570%2C380)
The military operation to regain control of Nerkh district came just before the start of a three-day Eid ceasefire.
![Afghan men prepare victims' coffins for a mass funeral ceremony after yesterday's explosion in Kabul [Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-05-09T091410Z_45874189_RC29CN9MKH0C_RTRMADP_3_AFGHANISTAN-BLAST.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
At least 150 people, many of them young women, were injured in the attack in a Shia neighbourhood of the city.
Taliban increases attacks as US and NATO begin to withdraw their forces from Afghanistan.
![Handover ceremony at Camp Anthonic, from US Army to Afghan Defense Forces in Helmand province, Afghanistan [Ministry of Defense Press Office/Handout via Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-05-03T044534Z_129400582_RC248N92FPKT_RTRMADP_3_USA-AFGHANISTAN-WITHDRAWAL.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
US defence secretary says Afghan forces ‘will play major role in stopping the Taliban’ as group steps up attacks.
![The dam's capture comes days after after the US military formally began withdrawing its remaining troops from Afghanistan [File: Paul Watson/Toronto Star via Getty Images]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GettyImages-166899483.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Dahla Dam provides irrigation to farmers via a network of canals as well as drinking water for Kandahar province.
![Last month US President Joe Biden announced plans to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by September 11 [File: Andrew Renneisen/Getty Images]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GettyImages-849100420.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Once American and NATO troops leave, it is the only realistic course of action.
![The commander of NATO and US forces in Afghanistan, US Army Gen John W Nicholson in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2018 [File: Massoud Hossaini/AP Photo]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/AP_18015455338567.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
The withdrawal of US and NATO troops leaves the Afghan government facing a civil war alone.
![US Marines fill sandbags around their light mortar position near a cardboard sign reminding everyone that Taliban forces could be anywhere and everywhere, in southern Afghanistan [File: Jim Hollander/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-04-15T005143Z_936386758_RC20WM9TR6V5_RTRMADP_3_USA-AFGHANISTAN-WITHDRAWAL.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
A new intelligence report says women’s rights will be threatened following US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The Taliban armed group launches assaults across Afghanistan after a missed US deadline to withdraw troops.
![The Pentagon has said the US is ready to respond to attacks as it withdraws troops [File: Omar Sobhani/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2020-09-17T092236Z_1915004706_RC290J98V39U_RTRMADP_3_USA-AFGHANISTAN-FIGTHER-JETS.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Pentagon says ‘small harassing attacks’ by Taliban will not affect September 11 pullout deadline set by President Biden.
![The skies above Kabul and nearby Bagram airbase were buzzing with more US helicopter activity than usual as the pullout gears up [File: Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2017-11-30T134611Z_807819826_RC11AC2287F0_RTRMADP_3_AFGHANISTAN-SPECIAL-FORCES.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
US President Biden, determined to end what he called ‘the forever war’, says pullout to be complete by September 11.