WASHINGTON: Senior US military official Commander Centcom General JosephVotel has said cooperation from Pakistan remains significant inaccomplishing peace in Afghanistan.
“This is a South Asia strategy,” the general credited Trumpadministration’s policy towards the region and added: “Cooperation fromPakistan remains key to accomplishing the overall objective of a durablepolitical settlement in Afghanistan.”
During a departmental press briefing at the Central Command’s office inFlorida, Votel stressed that Islamabad needs to step forward on itspromises. “We continue to work closely with Pakistan to help them fulfillthe important role that they have indicated they want to play,” he said.Gen. Votel noted that there is much more to be done in Afghanistan but alsohailed the ongoing peace efforts. “The progress US forces are making in theconflict-striken country shows that the strategy in the region is working.”
He said the Afghan security forces are improving but needed more time tocontend with the Taliban and ISIS fighters. He emphasized that the missionin Afghanistan has witnessed remarkable changes in the environment, largelydriven by the new strategy.
“We and our Afghan partners are moving forward with a sense of urgency andpurpose to ensure that we don’t miss the opportunities being afforded bythis continued support from the international community, or that have beencreated on the ground through activities like the recent cease-fire,” hesaid.
Discussing the Afghan government cease-fire deal with the Taliban, thegeneral said that it demonstrated the increased desire for peace, not onlyfrom the Afghan people, but also from the belligerents in the conflict. “Wesaw numerous instances of this during the cease-fire, and we have seen manysince its conclusion, even in the midst of ongoing combat operations. Ourcampaign approach of increasing military pressure provided the time andspace for diplomacy and social pressure to pursue this opportunity,” hesaid. Other examples of ongoing military pressure include increased kineticstrikes in support of the Afghan forces, targeting Talibanrevenue-generation mechanisms, and making great progress in expanding thecoalition’s train, advise and assist mission, he noted. The Afghan peopleand many Taliban members have become more ready for peace, he added, asevidenced by peace marches, local and international religious condemnationsof the insurgency, broad diplomatic support to the Afghan-owned peaceprocess, and the cease-fire, he said.
“All six Afghan National Army corps have been frequently engaged inoffensive operations simultaneously, and at one point this spring, theywere conducting offensive operations in 13 of 34 provinces at the sametime. This is a testament to the great work by not only our forces, butalso others in the Nato-led coalition,” the general said. The recent Natosummit agreed to extend funding to the Afghan security forces through 2024,to which the Centcom commander called noteworthy saying it would providetime and resources to fulfill the intent of the Trump South Aisa strategy.