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![]() by Staff Writers Washington (AFP) July 16, 2018
NATO's Afghanistan mission denied Monday reports that its commander has said America is ready to join direct talks with the Taliban. US General John Nicholson spoke with Afghan officials in Kandahar, where he reportedly said the US was "ready" to talk to the Taliban -- a shift from the long-held position of Kabul needing to lead any peace process. In a statement, Nicholson said his comments had been mischaracterized and that he was merely reaffirming remarks by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who in June said the US is prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in eventual peace talks. "The United States is not a substitute for the Afghan people or the Afghan government," Nicholson said in the statement released by NATO's Resolute Support mission. Resolute Support spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell added that the US is exploring "all avenues" to advance a peace process. "But this remains an Afghan-led process," O'Donnell said. The New York Times on Sunday reported that the administration of President Donald Trump had told its top diplomats to seek direct talks with the Taliban. The insurgent group has long maintained it wants to talk only with the US, while Washington has insisted the Afghan government be involved. The Taliban has been rampant in recent years. Trump in 2017 reluctantly agreed to commit thousands more US troops to the 17-year-old fight. But Afghan security forces have been struggling to beat back the insurgents amid desertions, killings and corruption.
![]() ![]() Britain to send extra 440 troops to Afghanistan London (AFP) July 11, 2018 British Prime Minister Theresa May will pledge to send 440 extra troops to Afghanistan during the NATO summit in Brussels on Wednesday as US President Donald Trump urges allies to contribute more. The extra troops will be from the Welsh Guards regiment, with around half deploying in August and a second contingent to follow in February. "In committing additional troops to the Train Advise Assist operation in Afghanistan we have underlined once again that when NATO calls the UK is among the first ... read more
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