Washington/Doha/Kabul – Airstrikes by the Afghan military have killed 361 Taliban insurgents in the past 24 hours. Along with the Afghan army, US B-52 bombers and AC-130 gunships also have launched crushing attacks on the Taliban, killing hundreds of terrorists. The Taliban have said that the US airstrikes violate the Doha Agreement. But Pentagon spokesman John Kirby has given a clear signal that the airstrikes will not stop, saying the US president had promised assistance to the Afghan government and would continue to do so.
US B-52 bombers, AC-130 gunships are attacking Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan. It was President Biden who reportedly ordered the planes to be sent to assist the Afghan government. It is also claimed that US F-15E, F-16, F-18 fighter jets and MQ9 Ripper drones are now being prepared for attacks on the Taliban.
The USS Ronald Reagan, a US warship stationed in the Persian Gulf for the past few days, has reportedly reached near Pakistan’s territorial waters. Pakistani journalists have started claiming that US Special Forces personnel have entered the Kandahar province. Against this backdrop, the United States is expected to intensify its attacks on the Taliban. The issue of Afghanistan was also recently discussed between US Defence Chief General Mark Milley and CENTCOM Chief General Frank McKenzie. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on these reports. Kirby warned, ‘Not permanently, but the United States will continue to support Afghan government and military with airstrikes.’
US Special Envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad called on the Taliban to end the conflict, which has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced millions. Khalilzad warned that the United States would not recognise the Taliban if they took control of Afghanistan shortly, using military strength. Khalilzad called on the Taliban to stop the attacks and start talks with the Ghani government in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Taliban have claimed control of six major Afghan cities in the past five days. According to Michelle Bachelet, head of the United Nations human rights body, 183 people have been killed and 1,181 injured in clashes in Lashkar Gah, Kandahar, Herat and Kunduz in the last month. In Kandahar province alone, 20 children were killed and 130 wounded in a 72-hour struggle. The United Nations has said that the Taliban are targeting children also in Khost and Paktia provinces.
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