U.S. general sees progress in Afghanistan despite mounting Taliban attacks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Even after a string of deadly Taliban attacks in Afghanistan in recent months, the outgoing commander of U.S. and international forces there insisted on Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s strategy of an open-ended deployment was making progress.

A year ago Trump agreed to an open-ended deployment of U.S. military advisers, trainers and special forces and increased air support for Afghan forces.

“I believe the strategy is working... The reconciliation progress is significant and ultimately wars end with a political settlement,” General John Nicholson, commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission, said. He was speaking to reporters on the telephone from Kabul in one of his last media engagements.

The Taliban have launched a wave of attacks in recent weeks, including on the city of Ghazni, southwest of Kabul. Hundreds have been killed in the fighting.

An inspector general report released this week said that despite Trump’s new strategy, the Taliban continue to launch attacks across the country.

“As has been the case since the announcement of the South Asia strategy, the share of the population in areas controlled/influenced by the Taliban or the Afghan government did not change this quarter,” the report said. - More

U.S. general sees progress in Afghanistan despite mounting Taliban attacks

Sanctions on Iran having effect, but regime change is not U.S. policy: Bolton