U.N. Urges Taliban To Stop Offensive, Negotiate

Insurgents have overrun key cities and taken control of two-thirds of Afghanistan.

The United Nations chief is urging the Taliban to immediately halt their offensive in Afghanistan and negotiate "in good faith" to avert a prolonged civil war. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his first appeal directly to the Islamic militant group, which now controls two-thirds of the country, that he is "deeply disturbed by early indications that the Taliban are imposing severe restrictions in the areas under their control, particularly targeting women and journalists." "Afghanistan is spinning out of control," he said. "It is particularly horrifying and heartbreaking to see reports of the hard-won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away from them."