WASHINGTON – *The US Defense Department on Tuesday provided to the Congressits semiannual report titled “Enhancing Security and Stability inAfghanistan.” *
Covering events from December 1 to May 31, the report stated that with theimplementation of the South Asia Strategy optimism has grown that apolitical settlement with the Taliban is possible, TOLO News has reported.
“Our purpose in Afghanistan remains to prevent Afghanistan from againbecoming a safe-haven from which terrorist groups can plan and executeattacks on the United States, or our allies and citizens abroad,” officialssaid in a statement announcing the report’s submission.
“To accomplish this, we continue to support Afghanistan and train, adviseand assist its military and police forces.”
This reporting period marks the first campaign season to begin under theconditions-based South Asia Strategy announced by President Donald Trump inAugust.
In February, US Central Command designated Afghanistan as its main-effortmission and allocated additional combat enablers such as intelligence,surveillance, and reconnaissance assets; attack aviation; fire support; andmedical evacuation assets to support Afghan national defense and securityforces and coalition forces, officials said.
Optimism for Political Settlement
“The assets and authorities to implement the South Asia Strategy inAfghanistan are now in place and continue to generate optimism within theAfghan government and [the Afghan defense and security forces] that apolitical settlement with the Taliban is possible,” the Pentagon statementsaid.
“The key to success remains sustained military pressure against the Talibanin order to eliminate the idea that they can achieve their objectivesthrough violent conflict. The targeted investment of US assets andpersonnel have increased the lethality of the [Afghan forces] this fightingseason,” the statement read.
At the second Kabul Peace Conference in February, Afghan President AshrafGhani offered peace negotiations without preconditions to the Taliban, anunprecedented initiative that opened the door for meaningful negotiationsbetween the Afghan government and the Taliban, the statement noted.
During this reporting period, Afghan forces remained in control of allprovincial capitals and quickly defeated the Taliban’s attempt to takecontrol of the provincial capital of Farah in May, the Pentagon statementsaid.
The mild winter allowed for sustained military pressure against insurgentand terrorist forces and built positive momentum heading into the 2018fighting season.
Combined Afghan Special Security Force and conventional force operationsdemonstrate increasing Afghan tactical and operational ability on thebattlefield, officials said.