The White House says no outcome of the conflict in Afghanistan should be considered "inevitable", and Biden administration officials are again insisting that Afghan forces have both the training and the equipment needed to beat back the Taliban offensive in the country.
The Taliban now control nine separate provincial capitals, and intense combat is taking place for the northern stronghold of Mazar E Sharif and the southern city of Kandahar.
Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.
IN: "As Afghan…."
OUT: "…within three months"
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