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Dunford Discusses South Asia Strategy With Afghan Leaders

In a meeting with the Afghan political leadership this week, Joe Dunford, the US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reaffirmed the US’s cooperation with Afghanistan and the full implementation of President Donald Trump’s South Asia strategy.

Afghan officials have said that during the meeting government also stressed the need for further mobilization of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) for the upcoming war season.

Dunford arrived in Afghanistan late Monday to assess the campaign plan now that all personnel are in place and the South Asia strategy is in full swing.

Dunford also assessed the nature of the future military mission of the US Forces in Afghanistan.

“General Dunford held discussions with the leaders of the National Unity Government on certain issues including the implementation of the US war strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia and funding of the Afghan security forces,” said Jawed Faisal, deputy spokesman for the CEO Abdullah Abdullah.

According to reports, during his trip, Dunford also assessed the progress made by the US forces in the Afghan war and held talks with officials in Kabul on how to address the needs of the Afghan forces.

“Continued support by the US Forces in the war is very important for the Afghan government. We call on the United States to contribute more aid in equipping the Afghan security forces,” said interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish.

“The US has changed its war principle in Afghanistan and there is a need that the Afghan government also changes its principle regarding the war. Secondly the important point is the US and Afghan security forces should improve coordination during operations so that the enemy is not able to exploit the issue,” said military analyst Hekmatullah Hekmat.

Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has reiterated that systematic reforms need to be introduced in the structure of the government forces.

“In 1397 (2018) we will focus on implementing reforms in the ranks of the security forces,” said Ghani.

This comes after US Defense Secretary James Mattis visited Kabul last week where he said Washington believes victory in Afghanistan is still possible — not necessarily on the battlefield but a political one.

“We do look toward a victory in Afghanistan,” he said, adding: “Not a military victory — the victory will be a political reconciliation” with the Taliban, which has achieved a stalemate in recent years and shown little interest in conceding to the Kabul government.

US intelligence officials are predicting the war will however continue especially once the new fighting season starts.

Dunford Discusses South Asia Strategy With Afghan Leaders

The CEO’s office said Dunford also assessed the progress being made by US Forces in Afghanistan.

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In a meeting with the Afghan political leadership this week, Joe Dunford, the US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reaffirmed the US’s cooperation with Afghanistan and the full implementation of President Donald Trump’s South Asia strategy.

Afghan officials have said that during the meeting government also stressed the need for further mobilization of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) for the upcoming war season.

Dunford arrived in Afghanistan late Monday to assess the campaign plan now that all personnel are in place and the South Asia strategy is in full swing.

Dunford also assessed the nature of the future military mission of the US Forces in Afghanistan.

“General Dunford held discussions with the leaders of the National Unity Government on certain issues including the implementation of the US war strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia and funding of the Afghan security forces,” said Jawed Faisal, deputy spokesman for the CEO Abdullah Abdullah.

According to reports, during his trip, Dunford also assessed the progress made by the US forces in the Afghan war and held talks with officials in Kabul on how to address the needs of the Afghan forces.

“Continued support by the US Forces in the war is very important for the Afghan government. We call on the United States to contribute more aid in equipping the Afghan security forces,” said interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish.

“The US has changed its war principle in Afghanistan and there is a need that the Afghan government also changes its principle regarding the war. Secondly the important point is the US and Afghan security forces should improve coordination during operations so that the enemy is not able to exploit the issue,” said military analyst Hekmatullah Hekmat.

Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has reiterated that systematic reforms need to be introduced in the structure of the government forces.

“In 1397 (2018) we will focus on implementing reforms in the ranks of the security forces,” said Ghani.

This comes after US Defense Secretary James Mattis visited Kabul last week where he said Washington believes victory in Afghanistan is still possible — not necessarily on the battlefield but a political one.

“We do look toward a victory in Afghanistan,” he said, adding: “Not a military victory — the victory will be a political reconciliation” with the Taliban, which has achieved a stalemate in recent years and shown little interest in conceding to the Kabul government.

US intelligence officials are predicting the war will however continue especially once the new fighting season starts.

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