The United States says it will continue to carry out airstrikes to support Afghan forces facing attack from the insurgent Taliban, as U.S. and other international forces have drawn down troops in Afghanistan.
U.S. Marine General Kenneth McKenzie told a news conference in Kabul that the United States is prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks.
McKenzie, who leads U.S. Central Command, which controls U.S. forces for a region that includes Afghanistan, declined to say whether U.S. forces would continue airstrikes after the end of their military mission on Aug. 31.
He said 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.
But he added that a Taliban victory was not inevitable and a political solution remained a possibility.
The Taliban escalated its offensive in recent weeks, taking rural districts and surrounding provincial capitals, after U.S. President Joe Biden said in April U.S. troops would be withdrawn by September.
Afghan government and Taliban negotiators have met in Qatar’s capital Doha in recent weeks, although diplomats say there have been few signs of substantive process since peace talks began in September.
McKenzie said there would likely be a rise in violence after a lull over a Muslim holiday this week and said the Taliban could focus on populated urban centres.
Afghanistan’s military is reportedly overhauling its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrate forces around the most critical areas like Kabul and other cities, border crossings and vital infrastructure.
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