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Pentagon officials are watching the Taliban’s massive advances in Afghanistan “with deep concern” and urge their Afghan partners to “step up” and defend their country in the face of the withdrawal of US forces, the Pentagon press secretary said on Sunday. John Kirby.
Taliban claiming to have taken control of 85% of Afghanistan – a claim that US government officials dispute – Kirby told “Fox News Sunday” presenter Chris Wallace that the Pentagon “was not oblivious” of the situation.
BIDEN CHANGES THE END OF THE AMERICAN COMBAT MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN FROM SEPT. 11 TO AUGUST 31
“We certainly watch with deep concern, Chris, the deterioration of the security situation and the violence which is of course far too high, as well as the advances and momentum that the Taliban seem to have at this time,” he said. he declares.
Kirby said officials are monitoring Taliban movements in the country and working with the Afghan military “to encourage them to use the capabilities and capabilities that we know they have, and we know they know how to defend their own. country”.
He said Afghanistan’s capability and capabilities include a “very capable” air force and “very sophisticated” special forces that can help defend the country against the resurgence of the Taliban.
“Now is the time for them to step up and do just that,” Kirby said of their Afghan partners.
With the US Central Command estimating that more than 90% of the withdrawal process is complete, Kirby said that while US troops will not support Afghanistan on the ground, the United States will continue to support the country and its people.
“We’re not moving away from this relationship,” Kirby said. “We will continue to support them from a financial, logistical and certainly aircraft maintenance point of view.”
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The US withdrawal from Afghanistan comes after 20 years in the country – America’s longest war. More than 2,400 American soldiers died and nearly 21,000 were wounded.
Over the 20-year period, US troops have trained more than 300,000 Afghan military and security forces to help them combat the Taliban threat.
President Biden on Thursday pledged to repatriate US troops by Aug. 31 and defended his bipartisan decision to do so despite some critics who say the move could “create problems.”
Fox News’ Audrey Conklin and Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
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