WASHINGTON – The United States is unlikely to make any big shift inmilitary strategy as a result of an ongoing assessment of the war effort inAfghanistan, the top US general overseeing forces in the region said onThursday.
Reuters reported on July 10 that the United States was preparing toundertake a strategy review, a year after President Donald Trumpbegrudgingly agreed to extend America’s involvement in the conflict.
US Army General Joseph Votel portrayed it more as a regular assessment thana wholesale review and suggested that he expected it would confirmprogress, however uneven, in the nearly 17-year-old war.
“I don’t envision something … that would likely lead to a major change inthe overall strategy, which I believe is showing progress,” Votel told anews briefing.
Officials said Trump has shown signs of frustration over the lack ofprogress since he unveiled a strategy last August that committed to anopen-ended deployment of US military advisers, trainers and special forcesand increased air support for Afghan security forces. The stated US goal isto push the Taliban militants to work toward a peace agreement with theKabul government.
Trump was opposed to remaining in America’s longest war, but was convincedby his advisers to press ahead. He authorized last year the deployment ofan additional 3,000 US troops, bringing the total to around 15,000.
Trump has also piled pressure on neighboring Pakistan to crack down onmilitant safe havens on its side of the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Votel said he had seen positive signs from Islamabad but stressed that hewanted to see Pakistan put more pressure on militants.
He also noted the key role Washington wants Islamabad to play in promotingdialogue in Afghanistan.
“We also need to see them continue to make efforts to compel the Taliban tocome to the table and take advantage of these opportunities,” Votel said.
The remarks come amid growing speculation about moves to open talks withthe Taliban following an unprecedented three-day ceasefire during lastmonth’s Eid holiday. – Agencies