KABUL: A U.S. intelligence report disclosed that the prospects for a diplomatic resolution to end continuing tensions between the Afghan government and the Taliban were dim as the US prepared to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan.
 “We assess that prospects for a peace deal will remain low during the next year. The Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield, and the Afghan government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the coalition withdraws support,” the Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, annual threat assessment report said.
“Kabul continues to face setbacks on the battlefield, and the Taliban is confident it can achieve military victory,” it said.
The report was issued one day before US President Joe Biden is due to make a formal announcement about the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan by September at the earliest. 
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday in a press conference vowed to pull the US troops out of Afghanistan by Sept. 11 this year.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also said that all allies had decided to begin withdrawing NATO troops on May 1. He said that only Afghans were able to establish peace in their country.