Afghan forces plan to be on the offensive in the coming year, according to a Resolute Support press release. The NATO mission said it intends to leverage the winter months to disrupt Taliban sources of revenue and enhance air power in preparation for the insurgents’ spring offensive with help from the Afghan forces.
However, significant challenges await Resolute Support, the Afghan government and auxiliary security forces. That’s because Resolute Support mischaracterized 2017 as a success for Afghan forces and is overly optimistic about the Afghan military’s ability to take the fight to the Taliban.
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WNU Editor: A sure sign that this escalation is going to happen is this latest announcement from the Pentagon .... Up to 1000 more US troops could be headed to Afghanistan this spring (Washington Post). More here .... US military considering additional 1,000 troops for Afghanistan: report (The Hill). The U.K. are also getting involved .... SAS-style crack force is deployed to Afghanistan: 'Hand-picked, battle-hardened' British Army platoon flies out to train Afghan security forces (Daily Mail). On a side note, Pakistan is now blaming the U.S. for failing to woo the Taliban .... Pakistan says US, Afghanistan failed to woo Taliban (Pakistan Today)
Update: So true .... Afghanistan situation worsens (The Australian editorial). This is also true .... Afghanistan in the doldrums (Saad Marwat, The Nation)
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