WASHINGTON: The US goal in Afghanistan is to force the enemy to a politicalsolution, Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W White has told a regularbriefing as the Taliban and Da’ish terrorists ramped up attacks aimed atdisrupting the electoral process in the war-torn country.
The spokesperson said the attacks in the past weeks were desperateattempts, adding that the US goal was to force the enemy to a politicalsolution.
‘This is not easy. But we’re committed to ensuring that there’s ultimatelya political solution’.
Responding to a question about Afghan authorities keep blaming Pakistan forterrorist activities in Afghanistan, the spokesperson said that the Talibanand Da’ish were carrying out terrorist attacks with a motive to scarepeople and were purposely targeting voting registration as, she added, theyknew that they could not win at the ballot box.
On Pakistan’s cooperation with the US in Afghanistan, she said that the UShas opportunities with Pakistan and “we’ll look to them and work with themto find opportunities to further regional security”.
To a question about any new direction as far as Afghanistan was concerned,she said that the US was committed to restoring peace and stability andPresident Trump showed his commitment by us announcing the South AsiaStrategy.
About the ability and capacity of the Afghan forces to combat terrorists,she said that right not, US was satisfied that it was working hardalongside Nato partners to ensure that they get the training necessary toensure that they can ultimately take the fight to the enemy and push thisto a political solution.
Asked to assess the current situation in Afghanistan in the wake ofincreased terrorist attacks in the recent weeks, Spokesperson White saidthat the Taliban had lost ground in terms of resources and financing.
“So they have lost ground. And I think you can see by the fact that theirattacks have been more spectacular and they’ve killed more civilianinnocent lives, shows that they’re desperate,” she said, adding, that theyhad stepped up attacks because they were not capable of convincing thepeople that they were a viable option.