Taliban fighters are advancing across Afghanistan, an offensive that has accelerated as US and NATO troops withdraw from the country after a 20-year-long war. In the past week, the Taliban have overrun areas bordering five countries: Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Pakistan.

Staring at civil war: How bad is the situation in Afghanistan?

Five Czech soldiers have been injured in an attack in Afghanistan only two months after three others were killed, the Czech defence ministry said on Thursday. "The attack on the Czech patrol occurred on Wednesday around 1220 GMT near the Bagram base in the Parwan province," the ministry said in a statement.

Five Czech soldiers injured in Afghanistan attack: Defence Ministry

In a major shift in 2016, investigators documented a tenfold rise in casualties caused by Islamic State militants

Afghan war: Casualty figures among children saw sharp spike in 2016, UN says