Senior U.S. defense and military officials are hopeful that the Afghan government will be able to defend itself against the latest military offensive launched by the Taliban. The Taliban offensive came days ago as U.S. and allied forces began withdrawing from Afghanistan.
Officials in Afghan provinces have warned that damage from a series of attacks that occurred after the official U.S. withdrawal began May 1 is escalating, with some offensives also resulting in heavy casualties. But the Defense Department said Thursday (May 6) that the withdrawal was “on track” and that there were no surprises.
Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Thursday that “in my professional military estimation, it’s not a foregone conclusion that the Taliban will automatically win and Kabul will fall.”
“I have personally witnessed …… Afghan security forces are capable of fighting. ,” General Milley said. “We’ve really been supporting them, but they’ve been leading the fight.” Milley previously served in Afghanistan.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who spoke to the media along with Milley, also expressed confidence in the Afghan military’s capabilities.
“We’ve seen Afghan security forces, for example, conduct a counterattack at Lashkar Gah and do quite well,” Austin told reporters. “We are hopeful that the Afghan security forces will play an important role in stopping the Taliban.”
Taliban offensive
However, the Taliban have been waging a fierce and relentless offensive, according to local Afghan officials and some people working in aid on the ground.
Officials in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province reported Thursday that Taliban militants captured the strategically important Dahla Dam after heavy fighting, forcing hundreds of families to flee the area.
The Taliban meanwhile took to social media to celebrate the capture of a key district in Afghanistan’s northern Baghlan province.
Some of the heaviest fighting has taken place in Helmand province. Although Afghan government forces launched a successful counterattack Wednesday, U.S. airstrikes are still needed to contain the advance of Taliban militants.
“The situation that has emerged so far is in line with what we expected,” Austin told reporters. “Our focus is on ensuring that we can withdraw our resources, our forces and our allies in a safe and orderly and responsible manner.”
U.S. military officials also noted that, contrary to some allegations, the frequency and intensity of the 80 to 120 average daily Taliban attacks on Afghan security forces are no different than they were for most of last year.
Afghan Government Forces Capabilities
Afghan defense officials have also claimed victory through social media, often posting videos of the Afghan Air Force launching airstrikes against Taliban positions.
“Currently, the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces are 100 percent independent in planning, commanding and controlling and conducting military operations,” Fawad Aman, deputy spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, told the Voice of America’s Afghan desk on Wednesday.
He added, “There is no support or physical presence of foreign forces in the field.”
However, some U.S. officials and outside experts warn that the withdrawal of some 2,500 to 3,500 U.S. troops and nearly 7,000 coalition forces and tens of thousands of contractor contract workers will put the capabilities of Afghan security forces to the test.
“The level of violence may be escalating, but it’s a call for the Afghan National Security Forces, who must take over from coalition and NATO forces,” retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt told the Voice of America’s Afghan desk.
“We’re going to continue to train them. We will continue to arm them,” Kimmitt said, “however, it is unlikely that the Americans will reverse the withdrawal unless there is a significant change in the level of non-violence.”
But how the U.S. will help the Afghan Army and Afghan Air Force remains unclear.
Senate President Gen. Milley told reporters Thursday, “Maintaining logistical support to the Afghan Air Force is a critical test, and we have to figure out what to do.” Milley hinted that some contractor personnel may return to Afghanistan after the withdrawal is complete.
“A lot will depend on the security situation on the ground,” he said. “The intent is to keep the Afghan Air Force in the air and provide them with continued maintenance support.”
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, a key U.S. government oversight agency, issued a report last week that said the Afghan Air Force would not be able to take to the air for months without the kind of intensity of support currently provided by contractor personnel.
Recent Comments