U.S. sends military advisers to help Afghan force fight Taliban
KABUL, Afghanistan — The United States has sent military advisers to aid Afghan forces in Ghazni, where they were struggling Sunday to regain full control three days after the Taliban launched a massive assault on the eastern city.
The assault was a major show of force by the Taliban, which had infiltrated deep into the city and attacked from several directions. In recent years the insurgents have seized several districts across the country and staged neardaily attacks on Afghan security forces, but have been unable to capture and hold urban areas.
The U.S.-led NATO mission has carried out airstrikes in support of Afghan forces. Lt. Col. Martin O’Donnell, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said Afghan forces were engaged in a “cleanup operation,” while acknowledging for the first time that “some U.S. advisers were on the ground.”
The insurgents have been steadily increasing their political profile, demanding direct talks with Washington and recently meeting with officials in neighboring Uzbekistan.
Ghazni, a key city linking areas of Taliban influence barely 75 miles from the capital, Kabul, came under attack early Friday. The Taliban claim to have seized parts of the city, while Afghan officials insist the situation is under control.
Afghanistan’s Tolo News reported that a reinforcement convoy of Afghan forces was ambushed Sunday as it made its way from neighboring Paktia province to Ghazni.
The assault on Ghazni began as the head of the Talban’s political office was wrapping up a rare diplomatic foray in Uzbekistan.