US General seeks more aggressive Afghan push
washington — The top American commander for the Middle East wants a more aggressive Afghan military pressuring Taleban and other insurgents over the normally quieter months of Afghanistan’s winter, and then quickly going on the offensive in the spring. It’s all part of a plan the United States hopes will change the course of a war now entering its 17th year.
Gen. Joseph Votel of US Central Command said an influx of new American trainers can help escalate the fight. They’ll be operating with Afghan units, closer to the front lines and at greater risk, but Votel said US commanders will ensure American and allied forces have adequate protection.
The goal is to get the Afghan military moving on its military campaign sooner, rather than later.
The United States wants the “focus on offensive operations and we’ll look for a major effort to gain the initiative very quickly as we enter into the fighting season,” Votel said in an interview.
Afghan forces must “keep the pressure on all the time and work to gain the upper hand as quickly as we can. So that as we get into this next fighting season we can build on the initiative,” he said.
The Trump administration’s Afghanistan strategy gives the US military greater authority to launch offensive attacks against a resilient Taleban and an emerging Daesh affiliate.
The plan, announced in August, was designed to reverse a stalemate in America’s longest war. It specifically eliminates the Obama administration’s scheduled plan to withdraw US forces, but includes no dramatic changes in an approach that has failed to stabilise the country or snuff out extremist groups operating from Afghan territory.
As 2018 begins, Afghanistan appears to be high on President Donald Trump’s agenda. — AP