In addition to having a profound impact on the author of this commentary, he says Gen. Austin Scott Miller will be remembered as a friend of Afghanistan.
The long-awaited peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government’s negotiating team are to begin on Saturday in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, the Taliban and Qatar’s foreign ministry said Thursday.
Militants affiliated with the Islamic State group stormed a prison in eastern Afghanistan and freed nearly 400 of their fighters before security forces restored order, a government official said Monday.
Washington’s envoy to Afghanistan on Saturday emphasized the economic benefits of the peace deal with the Taliban, forging ahead with an agreement that has run into new political obstacles in the U.S. and the region.
However, there was apparently no mention during the call about allegations that some Taliban militants received money to kill U.S. and NATO soldiers in Afghanistan.
Less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump said he had a “very good talk” with a Taliban leader and insisted the militants want to end the violence, a U.S. military drone targeted the group in retaliation for an uptick in attacks against Afghan forces.
Drinking snake blood at Exercise Cobra Gold, freestyle drill routines, the agreement that may result in all foreign troops leaving Afghanistan, and more of this week's best military photos.
The signing could help President Donald Trump fulfill a key campaign promise to extract America from its “endless wars.” Under the agreement, the U.S. will begin withdrawing thousands of troops in exchange for Taliban commitments to prevent Afghanistan from being a launchpad for terrorist attacks.
Iran has long sought the withdrawal of American forces from neighboring Iraq, but the U.S. killing of an Iranian general and an Iraqi militia commander in Baghdad has added new impetus to the effort, stoking anti-American feelings that Tehran hopes to exploit to help realize the goal.