Trump's new strategy is long term commitment: US military commander in Afghanistan
U.S. Army General John Nicholson
The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield, it's time for them to join the peace process," General John Nicholson
The top USmilitary commander inAfghanistansaid on Thursday President Donald Trump's new strategy is a sign of a long-term commitment to what is already America's longest war and called on Taliban insurgents to agree to peace talks.
"The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield, it's time for them to join the peace process,"GeneralJohn Nicholson told reporters in the Afghan capital, Kabul. "We will not fail inAfghanistan, our national security depends on that as well."
Critics, including Trump himself during the 2016 campaign for the USpresidency, have argued thatAfghanistanis no closer to peace despite billions of dollars spent on aid and nearly 16 years of the USand allied military operations.
In February, Nicholson told the US Congress he needed "a few thousand" more troops in Afghanistan, mostly to help advise Afghan security forces that are battling Taliban, Islamic State and other Islamist insurgents.
Trump has now approved an extended American presence inAfghanistan, although neither he nor his military leaders have provided any specifics about troop numbers or timelines.
The current US force for the predominantly advise-and-assist mission inAfghanistanstands at around 8,400, well down from around 100,000 during the "surge" decided on by Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama.
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Several thousand more troops are often in the country on "temporary" or other uncounted missions.
Nicholson said new advisers from the United States and NATO coalition allies would increase the training missions, including at specialized military schools and expanding the Afghan air force and special forces.
He also praised Trump's decision not to impose "arbitrary" deadlines on the American mission in Afghanistan.
"This policy announcement ... is proof of our continued commitment," he said.
The Taliban government was overthrown by the US, backed Afghan forces in late 2001 but USforces have been bogged down there ever since. About 2,400 U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan.
USmilitary and intelligence officials are concerned that a new Taliban victory would allow al Qaeda and Islamic State’s regional affiliate to establish bases inAfghanistan.
That could allow them to plot attacks against the United States and its allies, they fear, just as Osama bin Laden had done with the Sept. 11, 2001, strikes that triggered the war inAfghanistan.