The US and the Taliban are set to begin their seventh round of peace talks on Saturday.
Negotiators from both sides will discuss ways to end the war in Afghanistan.
One US official called the talks a “make-or-break moment” to halt more than 18 years of fighting.
The discussions will be led by Zalmay Khalilzad, who is the US peace envoy for Afghanistan.
He has held six rounds of talks with the Taliban since October.
Afghanistan is preparing to hold presidential elections on September 28.
Israel warns Lebanon of 'heavy price' as week's death toll nears 300
Israel has warned Lebanon of a "very heavy price" if it did not rein in Hezbollah on Saturday, as it pounded the group's strongholds around the country with air strikes and mounted a deadly airborne raid in the east.
Trump rejects settling war with Iran
US President Donald Trump on Saturday has raised the possibility of the war against Iran ending only once that country no longer has a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power.
Qatar intercepts 6 ballistic missiles, 2 cruise missiles
Qatar's Ministry of Defence has announced its interception of 6 ballistic missiles and 2 cruise missiles on Saturday.
Trump tells Britain he does not need its help to win Iran war
President Donald Trump has said on Saturday that Britain is giving "serious thought" to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, but added that the US does not need them to win the war with Iran, in the latest clash between the military allies.
