Kabul:
Hundreds of Taliban fighters have been killed in fierce battles with government forces across a number of provinces of Afghanistan, officials stated Saturday, as Washington announced it would finish withdrawing its troops from the nation by the finish of August.
Washington’s announcement came immediately after all US and NATO troops vacated their key Bagram Air Base, from exactly where the coalition forces led operations for two decades against the Taliban and their Al-Qaeda allies.
Over the previous 24 hours, more than 300 Taliban fighters have been killed in fighting with government forces, the ministry of defence stated Saturday.
Scores have been killed in air strikes, which includes a pre-dawn assault on Saturday, in the southern province of Helmand, exactly where the insurgents and government troops have frequently clashed.
There have been fears that Afghan forces would struggle devoid of the air help that the United States has offered.
“In recent days, the Afghan air force has intensified its air strikes against the Taliban hideouts and the insurgents have suffered casualties,” Attaullah Afghan, a member of Helmand provincial council, told AFP.
The Taliban rejected the government’s claims.
Both sides normally exaggerate each and every other’s casualties and their claims are tough to independently confirm.
But considering the fact that May 1 when the US military started its final withdrawal of about 2,500 troops, the two warring sides have clashed fiercely across the rugged countryside.
As a outcome, the Taliban has seized dozens of districts in blistering assaults targeting government forces.
Even as the fighting rages, the Pentagon has pressed on with its withdrawal to finish America’s longest war.
On Friday, all US and NATO troops left Bagram Air Base, signalling that the military involvement for coalition forces was lastly nearing its finish.
‘Hub For Foreign Intervention’
Over the years, the mini-city north of Kabul has been visited by hundreds of thousands of US and NATO service members and contractors.
It has excellent military and symbolic significance.
“For many Afghans, Bagram is remembered as the hub for more than one foreign intervention, as it was the main air base for the Soviets throughout their occupation of the country as well,” stated Andrew Watkins, an Afghanistan professional at the International Crisis Group.
“Not only has it been the entry point of most foreign troops that have passed through the country since 2001, it has been home to many of the in-country air assets that have lent the Afghan security forces such a vital advantage on the battlefield.”
The exit of foreign troops from Bagram has additional fuelled issues the nation may well slide into new civil war, as in the 1990s immediately after the Soviets left.
“I see history repeating. The Americans are doing the same what the Russians did. They are going without ending the war,” stated Kabul resident Dawood Hotak.
“I feel our country will slide back into another civil war as the Taliban have intensified their attacks and the Americans are exiting.”
At the White House Friday, President Joe Biden attempted to ease these issues.
He stated the US military is maintaining an “over the horizon capacity” which could bring firepower to aid the government and its forces if required.
Media reports say the Pentagon will possibly retain about 600 troops in Afghanistan to guard the vast US diplomatic compound in Kabul.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also stated that the exit of foreign troops from Bagram did not imply that the all round withdrawal of foreign forces would be completed inside days.
Foreign troops would be out of Afghanistan “by the end of August”, she stated, closer to the September 11 deadline set by Biden.