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3,000 additional US troops on their way to Afghanistan

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More than 3,000 additional US troops are on their way to Afghanistan in line with President Donald Trump’s new strategy, media reports said on Tuesday. Defense Secretary James Mattis told a news conference at the Pentagon he had signed the order to send more troops to the war-torn country at the end of last month. Mattis did not give precise numbers but said he was sending “over 3,000” troops to Afghanistan. Some 11,000 American forces are already stationed in the country. ‘Most of them are on their way or under orders now,’ Mattis said, ‘and I’d prefer not to give any more information that helps the enemy.’ Top military brass at the Pentagon have been calling the current situation in Afghanistan a ‘stalemate,’ and asking for more troops. The decision to send in more troops caps President Donald Trump’s change of heart on how to deal with the Afghanistan conflict, America’s longest war. Before his election last year, candidate Trump had routinely called for a full U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Ghani off to US to attend UN General Assembly and meet President Trump

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President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani left for the United States on an official visit to participate in the UN General Assembly and meet his US counterpart President Donald Trump. A spokesman for the Presidential Office Dawa Khan Meenapal confirmed the scheduled meeting between President Ghani and President Trump. Speaking to reporters in Kabul, Meenapal said Sunday that the President and his American counterpart will hold talks on peace and security situation of Afghanistan. This will be the first meeting to be held between President Ghani and President Trump after the announcement of the new US strategy for Afghanistan and the South Asia.

NATO commander reaffirms strong support to Afghanistan after Kandahar attack

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The commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan General John Nicholson reaffirmed the strong support of the alliance to Afghanistan after a suicide attack claimed the life of a Romanian soldier. He said “The thoughts and prayers of the entire Resolute Support Mission are with the loved ones of our fallen soldier at this difficult time”. He also added “This loss only continues to strengthen our resolve and support to the Afghan government and its citizens as we work toward a secure and stable Afghanistan”. According to a statement by the alliance, two other Romanian soldiers were wounded in the attack when the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeted their patrol. The Taliban insurgents group claimed responsibility behind the attack amid increasing pressures on the group, specifically after the announcement of the new US strategy for Afghanistan.

US considering dropping Pakistan as an ally over terror sanctuaries

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Washington is considering dropping Pakistan as an ally amid growing pressures regarding the terror sanctuaries that remain intact despite repeated calls to take actions, it has been reported. Sources told The Financial Times that Washington is examining tougher measures to quell more than 20 terrorist groups operating using the Pakistani soil. “Thinking of Pakistan as an ally will continue to create problems for the next administration as it did for the last one”, said a former CIA analyst who now leads South Asia policy in the National Security Council. The Afghan and US officials have long been criticizing Islamabad for remaining reckless to act against the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist network sanctuaries as they claim that the leadership councils of the two groups are based in the key cities of Pakistan from where they plan and coordinate attacks in Afghanistan, including some of the deadly attacks on US forces. In August Trump said: “For its part, Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror. The threat is worse because Pakistan and India are two nuclear-armed states whose tense relations threaten to spiral into conflict. And that could happen”.

C.I.A. Wants Authority to Conduct Drone Strikes in Afghanistan for the First Time

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The C.I.A. is pushing for expanded powers to carry out covert drone strikes in Afghanistan and other active war zones a proposal that the White House appears to favor despite the misgivings of some at the Pentagon, according to current and former intelligence and military officials. If approved by President Trump, it would mark the first time the C.I.A. has had such powers in Afghanistan, expanding beyond its existing authority to carry out covert strikes against Al Qaeda and other terrorist targets across the border in Pakistan.

US Bombing Campaign in Afghanistan Intensifies, Hitting New High

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The U.S. military dropped 555 bombs in Afghanistan against Taliban and Islamic State targets in August, the highest number in a single month since 2012. The U.S. has conducted about 2,400 airstrikes since the beginning of the year in support of Afghan partners battling the Taliban and IS terrorists, said U.S. Navy Captain Bill Salvin, spokesman for NATO’s Resolute Support mission in the country. The record increase in U.S. airstrikes comes as President Donald Trump last month unveiled his long-awaited new strategy for the 16-year-old Afghan war, the United States’ longest-running foreign military engagement. The Trump plan requires a modest troop surge and increased foreign airpower for Afghan forces so they could step up operations against the Taliban and IS loyalists, prompting concerns that intensified hostilities may cause more civilian casualties. The military “uplift” that President Trump announced, including increased airpower, has not had a significant direct impact as yet because most of it is in the process of coming into the (war) theater, said Salvin. Two American airstrikes in the last week of August killed at least 24 civilians and wounded 16 others, almost all of them women and children, according to a United Nations probe. The U.N. has already recorded a 43 percent rise in Afghan civilian casualties from aerial strikes in the first six months of 2017.

US forces have failed in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s FM claims

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The foreign minister of Pakistan Khwajah Asif has claimed that the US forces have failed in Afghanistan as he arrived in Tehran on Monday to seek regional and international support in the aftermath of the US strategy declaration by President Donald Trump last month. Soon after his arrival in Tehran, Foreign Minister held detailed talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Javad Zarif on bilateral relations and the prevailing regional situation, including efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan. “The two Foreign Ministers also exchanged views about efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan, particularly in the context of latest developments in Afghanistan”, the statement said, adding that “They agreed that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and a politically negotiated settlement was imperative for lasting peace in Afghanistan. They underscored that the regional countries have vital stakes in stability in Afghanistan should play a more proactive role in the peace efforts”.

Afghans protest ongoing violence in Myanmar

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On Thursday, thousands of Afghans took to the streets in different cities of Afghanistan to denounce ongoing violence in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state. Fresh violence erupted in Rakhine nearly two weeks ago when security forces launched an operation against the Rohingya community. It triggered a fresh influx of refugees to neighboring Bangladesh, which already hosted around 400,000 Rohingya. According to the UN refugee agency, 164,000 Rohingya had crossed into Bangladesh by Thursday. In the capital Kabul, the demonstrators gathered outside the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan office. They chanted slogans against the Myanmar authorities, urging the human rights organizations and the UN to play their due role in stopping the “genocide”. Attaullah Faizani, an organizer of the demonstration, told Anadolu Agency on the occasion that the purpose of protest is to express solidarity with the Muslims in need.

Pakistan’s army chief says cannot fight Afghanistan’s war in Pakistan

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The Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said the country cannot fight Afghanistan’s war in Pakistan, apparently gesturing towards the demands by Kabul and Washington to eliminate the sanctuaries of the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist network based in the key cities of the country. The remarks by Gen. Bajwa could be a gesture of Pakistan to reject the calls for the elimination of the terror sanctuaries as he said the country would prefer to remain impartial in the ongoing violence in Afghanistan. The US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had earlier said Pakistan is expected to “take decisive action against militant groups based in Pakistan that are a threat to the region.” The pressures by Washington on Pakistan regarding the safe havens of the terror groups are on the rise after the announcement of the new strategy by US President Donald Trump last month.

US military apologizes for anti-Taliban leaflets containing offensive material

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The United States military in Afghanistan has apologized for the anti-Taliban leaflets distributed via air among the people which contain offensive material desecrating the Islam religion. These leaflets sparked furor among the people as the leaflets contained image of a dog along with the Taliban flag which contain holy Islamic verses. In the meantime, a US military official Gen. James Linder in a statement said “The design of the leaflets mistakenly contained an image highly offensive to both Muslims and the religion of Islam”. Gen. James further added that an investigation would be held “to determine the cause of this incident and to hold the responsible party accountable”. The leaflets were apparently distributed to attract the local support in the drive against the Taliban insurgents amid deteriorating security across the country mainly led by the Taliban insurgency.

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