The Taliban fully control four percent of Afghanistan and are openly present in another 66 percent, a BBC study has found. The estimate is significantly higher than assessments by the NATO-led coalition. 

The results show that about 15 million people – half the population – are living in areas that are either controlled by the Taliban or where the Taliban are openly present and regularly mount attacks. 

The BBC estimate was based on conversations with more than 1,200 individual local sources in all districts of the country, conducted between 
August 12 and November 21, 2017.

 
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