Afghan officials, security forces reportedly started selling out to the Taliban in early 2020

Taliban in Kabul
(Image credit: Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken conceded Sunday that the Taliban's effective takeover of Afghanistan "happened more quickly than we anticipated."

The domino-like fall of Afghanistan's regional capitals, then the national capital, was years in the making, aided by widespread corruption, an isolated and poorly advised President Ashraf Ghani, President Biden's expeditious withdrawal of U.S. forces and contractors, and demoralized and often unpaid security forces, political and military analysts say.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.