US affords additional air assist to Afghan troops amid Taliban offensive
United States will proceed to hold out airstrikes to assist Afghan forces going through assault from the rebel Taliban, a regional US commander mentioned on Sunday as US and different worldwide forces have drawn down troops in Afghanistan.
The Taliban escalated its offensive in latest weeks, taking rural districts and surrounding provincial capitals, after US President Joe Biden mentioned in April US troops could be withdrawn by September, ending a 20-year overseas navy presence.”The United States has increased airstrikes in support of Afghan forces over the last several days and we’re prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks,” US Marine General Kenneth McKenzie advised a information convention in Kabul.ALSO READ | On US airstrikes in support of Afghan forces, Taliban says violation of signed settlement may have consequencesMcKenzie, who leads US Central Command, which controls US forces for a area that features Afghanistan, declined to say whether or not US forces would proceed airstrikes after the top of their navy mission on August 31.”The government of Afghanistan faces a stern test in the days ahead … The Taliban are attempting to create a sense of inevitability about their campaign,” he mentioned.But he mentioned a Taliban victory was not inevitable and a political answer remained a chance.Afghan authorities and Taliban negotiators have met in Qatar’s capital Doha in latest weeks, though diplomats say there have been few indicators of substantive course of since peace talks started in September.ALSO READ | Taliban: Covered virtually 85% of Afghanistan, will seize relaxation soonReeling from battlefield losses, Afghanistan’s navy is overhauling its conflict technique in opposition to the Taliban to pay attention forces round probably the most vital areas like Kabul and different cities, border crossings and very important infrastructure, Afghan and US officers have mentioned.McKenzie mentioned there would doubtless be an increase in violence after a lull over a Muslim vacation this week and mentioned the Taliban might deal with populated city centres.”They are going to have to deal with the cities if they want to try and claw their way back into power” he mentioned. “I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that they are going to be able to capture these urban areas.”WATCH | Afghan Sikhs flee hometowns as Taliban advances in Afghanistan
