Taliban targeting Afghan pilots for assassination as US withdraws: report

The Taliban stated that it has launched an effort to trace down and assassinate Afghan Air Drive pilots in what U.S. and Afghan officers imagine is an try to dismantle the nation’s navy amid the Biden administration’s ongoing withdrawal of U.S. troops. 

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters on Friday that its marketing campaign was meant to make it possible for Afghan Air Drive pilots are “focused and eradicated as a result of all of them do bombardment towards their individuals.”

The group confirmed that amongst these focused and killed was Afghan Air Drive (AAF) Main Dastagir Zamaray, who was fatally shot in entrance of his 14-year-old son as the 2 visited a actual property agent’s workplace about promoting their dwelling to maneuver to a safer space inside the Afghan capital of Kabul, in line with Reuters. 

Zamaray is one in all seven pilots who two senior Afghan authorities officers informed Reuters have been assassinated whereas off of Afghan Air Drive bases in latest months. 

Afghanistan’s authorities has not publicly confirmed the variety of pilots assassinated, although the Pentagon spokesperson Rob Lodewick stated in an announcement to The Hill Friday that the Protection Division stated it was conscious of a number of Taliban-claimed killings of Afghan pilots. 

“We strongly condemn all focused assassinations in Afghanistan,” Lodewick stated. “The U.S. navy has lengthy acknowledged the threats confronted by many Afghan navy companions to incorporate AAF pilots and we admire their resolve, steadfastness and devotion to obligation on behalf of the individuals of Afghanistan.” 

He went on to say that the Pentagon is constant “to work with the Afghan authorities, its Ministry of Protection and our sister U.S. authorities companies on applications and processes able to defending these dealing with vital danger.”

Reuters famous that the Pentagon declined to touch upon any ongoing U.S. intelligence and investigations on the matter. 

The focused killings come because the Taliban claims to now have management of 85 percent of Afghanistan as a whole withdrawal of U.S. troops is predicted to be accomplished by Aug. 31.

President BidenJoe BidenCawthorn: Biden door-to-door vaccine strategy could be used to ‘take’ guns, Bibles Trump Jr. calls on Manchin, Tester to oppose Biden’s ATF nominee On The Money: Biden fires head of Social Security Administration | IRS scandals haunt Biden push for more funding MORE initially pushed to have all American troopers out of Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the twentieth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist assaults. 

Prior to now week, the Taliban has made vital territorial positive factors within the northern a part of the nation, inflicting a whole lot of Afghan troopers to flee the realm into neighboring international locations.

Moreover, the Tajikistan authorities stated Wednesday that it had taken in more than 1,000 Afghan civilians who had fled violence between the Taliban and Afghan forces. 

Whereas Biden in remarks from the White Home on Thursday rejected the idea {that a} Taliban takeover of Afghanistan was “inevitable,” Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby conceded in a Friday CNN interview that the present safety state of affairs in Afghanistan was “deteriorating.” 

Kirby stated of the Taliban, “We’re seeing them proceed to advance on district facilities across the nation, and it’s regarding.”

Biden on Thursday stated that his timeline for withdrawal had been accelerated as a result of “navy commanders suggested me that when I made the choice to finish the struggle, we wanted to maneuver swiftly to conduct the primary components of the drawdown.” 

“And on this context, velocity is security,” he added. 

—Up to date at 5:13 p.m.