Dozens of Afghan security forces were killed, along with nine civilians, in a flurry of Monday attacks by the Taliban. The attacks began Sunday night in the northeast, and ultimately hit several provinces around the country.
The strikes started in Takhar Province, where 16 soldiers and two police were killed, and moved on to Uruzgan, hitting a police checkpoint and killing five. Taliban gunmen attacked civilians in Balkh during an attempted extortion, while other small towns were reported hit further south.
These Taliban attacks come amid ongoing complaints about the Afghan government not releasing prisoners fast enough, along with the Taliban objecting to US attacks on them in violation of the US-Taliban peace deal.
Fighting raises concerns about whether the peace deal can be sustained. While these attacks on both sides remain serious concerns, however, violence overall is still down substantially in Afghanistan since the peace deal was signed at the end of February.
The Taliban seem a little upset about being tricked into holding back…
Pompeo better have a better backup plan than hosing the Taliban with COVID-19 aerosol drones.
Perhaps the only positive news of the day. Taliban are the true patriots fighting a toady “government.”