U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Political Affairs Colin Kahl expressed confidence that the military can strike terrorists in Afghanistan without the American presence in the country.
The U.S. authorities are consulting with representatives of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and other countries on issues related to creating conditions for the U.S. military to strike terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan. This was stated on Tuesday by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Political Affairs Colin Kahl at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Forces.
He expressed confidence that the U.S. military could effectively strike terrorists in Afghanistan without the American presence in the country. “We are striving to build a stronger ecosystem for over-the-horizon strikes against terrorists, which will include regional players. We are holding consultations with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and other countries,” Kahl said. He noted that he could provide additional data on these consultations and plans at closed hearings.
The radical Taliban movement launched a large-scale operation to establish control over Afghanistan after the U.S. announced the decision to withdraw its armed forces from there in the spring of this year. On August 15, the radicals entered Kabul without a fight, and President Ashraf Ghani left the republic. On September 6, the Taliban announced the establishment of control over the entire Afghan territory, and on September 7 announced the composition of the interim government, the legitimacy of which has not yet been recognized by any country.
