Monday, December 18, 2017

U.S. Defense Department Hails Afghan Forces’ Battlefield Gains

U.S. Army General John Nicholson speaks with Afghan police special forces after they took part in a military exercise in November.

WNU Editor: U.S. Hails Afghan Forces’ Battlefield Gains, Urges Taliban To Seek Talks With Kabul

The U.S. Defense Department has hailed success on the battlefield by Afghan forces and urged Taliban insurgents to embrace "peace and political legitimacy" through a negotiated settlement with the government in Kabul.

The comments came this week in the Pentagon’s semiannual report to Congress, the first since President Donald Trump on August 21 announced his new strategy for Afghanistan and the South Asia region.

The Pentagon said in the report given to Congress on December 15 that U.S. and Afghan “sources indicate this fighting season has been more successful than the last."

“During this reporting period [June 1, 2017, to November 30], the Taliban was unable to threaten any provincial centers, lost control of key districts, and the ANDSF retained control of all major population centers," it said, referring to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I do not see these gains that the U.S. Defense Department is claiming. On a side note, this is an interesting read .... Embedded in Afghanistan: how Afghan Special Forces fight the Taliban with help from US advisers (ABC 10).

No comments: