How The Taliban Has Gained Ground Since 2009
- By Li Luo
The Taliban effectively control more districts of Afghanistan than at any point since they were ousted from power in 2001, according to the Long War Journal. U.S. President Barack Obama acknowledged the Taliban’s gains when he announced recently he would keep more troops in Afghanistan than planned -- 8,400, down from a peak of 100,000 in 2011.
December 2009
![Drag the slider to see how the Taliban has gained ground in Afghanistan.](https://gdb.rferl.org/2d468698-fdcd-438c-af97-e6e2f55bbda7_w1024_n_q10_s.png)
June 2016
![Taliban Afghanistan B2](https://gdb.rferl.org/0522eca5-2446-43af-8b08-2a5330c3d470_w1024_n_q10_s.png)
1
Drag the slider to see how the Taliban has gained ground in Afghanistan.