Report says Taliban preparing to retake Afghanistan

A leaked NATO report claims the Taliban are preparing to retake control of Afghanistan when the alliance’s troops leave in 2014.

The top secret report, which Britain’s ‘The Times’ newspaper claims was compiled by the US military, also says Pakistan’s intelligence service has been helping the Taliban mount attacks against foreign forces.

The document reportedly says that the Taliban sees its return to power as “inevitable” once NATO forces have pulled out and that many ordinary Afghans agree.

A NATO spokesman has confirmed the existence of the report but said it was not meant to be considered a strategic analysis of the situation in Afghanistan

The claims come amid exploratory peace talks between the Taliban and the current Afghan government. Some analysts believe the report could strengthen the Taliban’s hand in negotiations.

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