WASHINGTON – United States has yet again changed the US troops Commander inAfghanistan in the 17th year of the war.
The new US commander for Afghanistan, Lieutenant General Austin S. Miller,takes charge of his command on Sunday.
He has been tasked not only to fight the insurgents but also to persuadethem to join peace talks.
As the in-charge of the Nato-led Operation Support, General Miller willalso maintain regular contacts with the Pakistani military establishment.
He told his confirmation hearing in June this year that he had “very, veryhigh expectations” of Pakistan working together with Afghanistan and theUnited States to eliminate terrorist safe havens.
He will also command more than 13,000 American troops based in Afghanistanand will supervise the Nato-led mission to train and advise the Afghanmilitary.
His most difficult task, however, will be to persuade the Taliban to joinpeace talks, as Laurel E. Miller, a former US representative forAfghanistan and Pakistan, pointed out.
“Throughout the ups and downs of this conflict, it’s become evident thatthe United States is not going to defeat the Taliban insurgency, eventhough it can prevent a Taliban victory,” Miller told The Washington Post.
The Trump administration wants its new commander in Afghanistan to achievethis goal with a combination of military and diplomatic manoeuvres.
General Miller and his troops are required to make the Taliban realise thatthey too cannot win this war and the only way forward for them is to sitdown with the Kabul government and find a peaceful solution acceptable toboth.