KABUL – Afghan Military 11 forces’ personnel were killed deadly attacks,while 18 were wounded.
Since the signing in Doha however, the militants have ramped up violenceagainst Afghan forces, ending a partial weeklong truce that provided a rarereprieve to war-weary residents.
US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Sonny Leggett tweeted that the airstriketook place against Taliban fighters who were “actively attacking” an Afghanforces checkpoint in Helmand province.
“This was a defensive strike to disrupt the attack,” he tweeted.
“We call on the Taliban to stop needless attacks and uphold theircommitments. As we have demonstrated, we will defend our partners whenrequired.”
He said insurgents had carried out 43 attacks on checkpoints in Helmand onTuesday alone.
The insurgents killed at least 20 Afghan soldiers and policemen in a seriesof overnight attacks, government officials told AFP Wednesday, casting apall over peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban, due to begin on March10.
“Taliban fighters attacked at least three army outposts in Imam Sahibdistrict of Kunduz last night, killing at least 10 soldiers and fourpolice,” said Safiullah Amiri, a member of the provincial council.
A defence ministry official speaking to AFP on condition of anonymityconfirmed the army toll, while the provincial police spokesman HejratullahAkbari confirmed the police fatalities.
The insurgents also attacked police in central Uruzgan province Tuesdaynight, with the governor’s spokesman Zergai Ebadi telling AFP:”Unfortunately, six police were killed and seven wounded.”
The news of the attacks came after Trump told reporters in Washington onTuesday that he had a “very good” relationship with Taliban political chiefMullah Baradar, with the pair speaking on the phone for 35 minutes,according to the insurgents.
“The relationship is very good that I have with the mullah. We had a goodlong conversation today and you know, they want to cease the violence,they’d like to cease violence also,” he said.
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But on Wednesday, US military spokesman Leggett warned that the “#Afghans &US have complied w/ our agreements; however, Talibs appear intent onsquandering this (opportunity) and ignoring the will of the people for#peace.”
Trump has touted the Doha deal as a way to end the bloody, 18-year USmilitary presence in Afghanistan — right in time for his Novemberre-election bid.
Under the terms of the deal, US and other foreign forces will quitAfghanistan within 14 months, subject to Taliban security guarantees and apledge by the insurgents to hold talks with the national government inKabul.
The agreement also includes a commitment to exchange 5,000 Talibanprisoners held by the Afghan government in return for 1,000 captives –something the militants have cited as a prerequisite for talks but whichPresident Ashraf Ghani has refused to do before negotiations start.
Trump has said the Taliban and Washington both “have a very commoninterest” in ending the war.
Since Saturday’s deal signing, the Taliban have been publicly claiming”victory” over the US and on Monday they announced they would resumeattacks on Afghan national forces.
Ghani’s government last week sent a delegation to Qatar to open “initialcontacts” with the insurgents, but Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen onTuesday said the militants would not meet Kabul’s representatives except todiscuss the release of their captives.
Apparent differences between the Doha agreement and a separate jointUS-Afghan declaration made in Afghanistan underline the obstacles facingnegotiators.
The US-Taliban deal committed to the release of prisoners, while the Kabuldocument only required both sides to determine “the feasibility ofreleasing” captives. -APP / AFP
