United States offers further air support to Afghan troops amid Taliban offensive

The Taliban has escalated its offensive in latest weeks, taking rural districts and surrounding provincial capitals, after U.S. President Joe Biden stated in April U.S. troops could be withdrawn by September, ending a 20-year overseas army presence.

“The USA has elevated airstrikes in help of Afghan forces during the last a number of days and we’re ready to proceed this heightened stage of help within the coming weeks if the Taliban proceed their assaults,” U.S. Marine Normal Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie advised a information convention in Kabul.

McKenzie, who leads U.S. Central Command, which controls U.S. forces for a area that features Afghanistan, declined to say whether or not U.S. forces would proceed airstrikes after the top of their army mission on Aug. 31.

“The federal government of Afghanistan faces a stern take a look at within the days forward … The Taliban are trying to create a way of inevitability about their marketing campaign,” he stated.

However he stated a Taliban victory was not inevitable and a political answer remained a risk.

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.

Reeling from battlefield losses, Afghanistan’s army is overhauling its struggle technique towards the Taliban to pay attention forces round probably the most vital areas like Kabul and different cities, border crossings and important infrastructure, Afghan and U.S. officers have stated.

U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on Saturday that the Afghan safety forces’ first job was to verify they might gradual the Taliban’s momentum earlier than trying to retake territory.

McKenzie stated there would seemingly be an increase in violence after a lull over a Muslim vacation this week and stated the Taliban might concentrate on populated city centres.

“They’re going to need to cope with the cities in the event that they wish to attempt to claw their manner again into energy” he stated. “I do not suppose it is a foregone conclusion that they’re going to be capable of seize these city areas.”