Afghan govt sends special forces to bolster embattled Ghazni defenses

Afghan special forces units moved to embattled Ghazni overnight to try to beat back Taliban insurgents who have come close to overrunning the city. The attack on Ghazni, a strategic center on the main road linking the capital Kabul with southern Afghanistan, has come as a severe blow to President Ashraf Ghani. The fighting also dampened hopes of a possible start to peace talks with the Taliban. Diplomats in Kabul said the government had admitted being taken by surprise by the attack, Reuters reports. After 72 hours with minimal public comment from the presidential palace, Ghani said on Twitter that reinforcements would be sent to the city urgently. US special forces units were on the ground helping to coordinate airstrikes and ground operations, according to Afghan officials. However, there was no confirmation from US military headquarters in Kabul.