Kabul: Amid escalating fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Saturday, the primary task of Afghan security forces is to make sure they can slow it down TalibanSpeed before attempting to retake the field.
“They’re strengthening their forces around major population centers,” Austin told reporters during a trip to Alaska. tolo newsQuoted by UK news agency.
“In terms of whether or not it will stop the Taliban, I think the first thing to do is to make sure they can slow the pace,” he said, adding that he believes the Afghans have potential and progress. But “we’ll see what happens.”
It comes as the US President Joe Biden He has promised to redouble diplomatic efforts to provide financial aid to Afghan forces and revive stalled peace talks, Tolo News reports.
Biden on Friday authorized up to $100 million from an emergency fund to meet “unexpected urgent” refugee needs stemming from the situation in Afghanistan, including Afghan special immigration visa applicants.
In a statement, white House said Biden and his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani discussed the situation in Afghanistan and reaffirmed their commitment to a sustainable bilateral partnership.
As Tolo News reports, the US has called on the Taliban to “engage in serious talks”, following the group’s insistence that they will not agree on a ceasefire and peace until an agreement on a new government in Afghanistan is reached. does not happen.
“We call on the Taliban to engage in serious dialogue to determine a political roadmap for the future of Afghanistan that leads to a just and sustainable solution,” a US State Department deputy spokesman said. Jalina Porter Said.
“A truce agreement between the Islamic Republic and the Taliban is the only way to end 40 years of war and bring Afghans to the peace they want and deserve,” he said.
on Friday, see human rights (HRW) said that Taliban forces controlling districts in Kandahar have detained hundreds of residents, whom they accuse of being linked to the government. The Taliban have reportedly killed some of the detainees, including relatives of provincial government officials and members of the police and military.
“They’re strengthening their forces around major population centers,” Austin told reporters during a trip to Alaska. tolo newsQuoted by UK news agency.
“In terms of whether or not it will stop the Taliban, I think the first thing to do is to make sure they can slow the pace,” he said, adding that he believes the Afghans have potential and progress. But “we’ll see what happens.”
It comes as the US President Joe Biden He has promised to redouble diplomatic efforts to provide financial aid to Afghan forces and revive stalled peace talks, Tolo News reports.
Biden on Friday authorized up to $100 million from an emergency fund to meet “unexpected urgent” refugee needs stemming from the situation in Afghanistan, including Afghan special immigration visa applicants.
In a statement, white House said Biden and his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani discussed the situation in Afghanistan and reaffirmed their commitment to a sustainable bilateral partnership.
As Tolo News reports, the US has called on the Taliban to “engage in serious talks”, following the group’s insistence that they will not agree on a ceasefire and peace until an agreement on a new government in Afghanistan is reached. does not happen.
“We call on the Taliban to engage in serious dialogue to determine a political roadmap for the future of Afghanistan that leads to a just and sustainable solution,” a US State Department deputy spokesman said. Jalina Porter Said.
“A truce agreement between the Islamic Republic and the Taliban is the only way to end 40 years of war and bring Afghans to the peace they want and deserve,” he said.
on Friday, see human rights (HRW) said that Taliban forces controlling districts in Kandahar have detained hundreds of residents, whom they accuse of being linked to the government. The Taliban have reportedly killed some of the detainees, including relatives of provincial government officials and members of the police and military.
.