CIA Chief Warns Taliban Is in ‘Strongest Military Position’ in Decades

William Burns, then nominee for CIA director, testifies during his confirmation hearing, in Washington, on Feb. 24, 2021. Tom Williams/Pool via AP

CIA Director William Burns said last week that the Taliban is engaged in offensive operations across Afghanistan and that the group is probably in its best military position in decades.

“The Taliban are making significant military advances; they’re probably in the strongest military position that they’ve been in since 2001,” Burns told NPR in a July 22 interview.