The commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Scott Miller, has not ruled out air strikes against the Taliban if Islamist insurgents continue to gain ground in the country as US troops withdraw.
“I do not want to see airstrikes, but in order to avoid airstrikes, you have to end all violence,” General Miller told reporters in Kabul, according to a video obtained by AFP from the US radio station Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.
“The best way to put an end to this, and I said this to the Taliban, is to stop attacks and airstrikes,” he said, adding that US forces still have the capability to carry out air strikes against guerrillas, even if US forces continue to withdraw.
Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan since the withdrawal of US troops began in May, with the Taliban claiming to have occupied at least 100 of the country’s 400 districts.
Typically, the withdrawal of US forces should be completed by September 11, a deadline set by US President Joe Biden.
The Taliban’s claims to the occupied territories are disputed by government officials and can hardly be verified by independent sources.
According to experts, the occupation of many areas by Islamic insurgents in recent weeks could be attributed to the lack of US air support for Afghan forces fighting insurgents in rural areas.
General Miller acknowledged that any land loss had an impact on the security of the entire country, including the “provincial capitals and the capital of the country” Kabul.
Last week, the Taliban took control of the main road leading from Afghanistan to Tajikistan, a key route for Central Asian trade. Islamist insurgents have also taken over areas around Kunduz, the provincial capital.
At the same time, they have surrounded most of the country’s major cities, raising fears that they may attempt to occupy Kabul after the withdrawal of US and NATO forces.
General Miller stressed that the general security situation was not “good”. “Afghan security forces recognize this and make the appropriate adjustments,” he said.
The Afghan Interior Ministry announced today that it has set up a 4,000-strong “rapid reaction force” led by retired generals. This military force will fight the Taliban together with the regular forces.
