*KABUL: *An American service member was killed in Afghanistan Friday, theUS-led NATO mission said, the latest US fatality as talks between the USand the Taliban continue.
“A US service member died during combat operations in Afghanistan, August29, 2019,” NATO’s Resolute Support mission said in a statement.
The death brings to at least 15 the number of members of the US military tobe killed in action in Afghanistan this year, just as Washington is seekinga way out of its longest war.
NATO did not immediately provide any additional information.
On August 21, two US Army commandos were killed in action in Afghanistan.
The death comes as the US and the Taliban continue to seek an agreement inDoha that would see thousands of American troops leave Afghanistan inreturn for various security guarantees.
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There are currently approximately 13,000 US troops in Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States will keep apermanent presence in Afghanistan, with 8,600 troops initially, even aftera deal is reached with the Taliban.
Trump also warned that if another attack on the United States originatedfrom Afghanistan, “we would come back with a force like … never before.”
Washington has been talking to the Taliban since at least 2018, with themain sticking point being how to get sufficient guarantees that Talibanterritory will not be used by al Qaeda or other international militantgroups to plot attacks on America. -APP/AFP
