Officials: American Mission In Afghanistan Will Expand

04:26

June 10, 2016

Pakistani Sunni Muslim supporters of hard line pro-Taliban party Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Nazaryati (JUI-N) torch a US flag during a protest in Quetta on May 25, 2016, against a US drone strike in Pakistan's southwestern province Balochistan in which killed Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour. (BANARAS KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)

The White House is giving military commanders expanded authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban. As part of the authority, U.S. troops already on the ground in Afghanistan would help to coordinate the air strikes. The decision comes as Afghan forces struggle against a resurgent Taliban and President Obama tries to end the war and pull out American troops. We speak with NPR's national security editor Phil Ewing about the military and political implications of this decision.

Guest

Phil Ewing, NPR's national security editor. He tweets @philewing.

This segment aired on June 10, 2016.