US Marines to return to Afghanistan´s Helmand province

[Hindustani78]

http://www.khaama.com/2-us-soldiers...n-afghan-commandos-soldier-in-nangarhar-02908
At least two US soldiers were shot dead by a soldier of the Afghan National Army (ANA) commandos forces in eastern Nangarhar province.

The provincial governor’s spokesman Ataullah Khogyani confirmed the incident and said the two US soldiers were killed in an insider attack involving an Afghan Special Operation Forces soldier in the restive Achin district.

Khogyani further added that the incident took place this evening after the Afghan soldier opened fire on his US comrades, leaving two dead and two others wounded.

He said the Afghan soldier was also killed in the shootout with the US forces.

Nangarhar is among the relatively calm provinces in eastern Afghanistan but the anti-government armed militant groups have recently increased their insurgency activities in some parts of the province during the recent years.

The Afghan forces are busy conducting counter-terrorism operations to eliminate the militants affiliated with the ISIS terrorist group in Nangarhar province.

The operations are being conducted in coordination with the US forces based in Afghanistan who are mainly carrying out airstrikes as part of a broader role granted to them by the Obama administration last year.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.khaama.com/2-us-soldiers...n-afghan-commandos-soldier-in-nangarhar-02908

At least three US soldiers were shot dead by a soldier of the Afghan National Army (ANA) commandos forces in eastern Nangarhar province.

The provincial governor’s spokesman Ataullah Khogyani earlier had said that two US soldiers were killed in an insider attack involving an Afghan Special Operation Forces soldier in the restive Achin district.

Khogyani further added that the incident took place this evening after the Afghan soldier opened fire on his US comrades, leaving two dead and two others wounded.

He said the Afghan soldier was also killed in the shootout with the US forces.

Nangarhar is among the relatively calm provinces in eastern Afghanistan but the anti-government armed militant groups have recently increased their insurgency activities in some parts of the province during the recent years.

The Afghan forces are busy conducting counter-terrorism operations to eliminate the militants affiliated with the ISIS terrorist group in Nangarhar province.

The operations are being conducted in coordination with the US forces based in Afghanistan who are mainly carrying out airstrikes as part of a broader role granted to them by the Obama administration last year.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.militarytimes.com/news/y...dier-killed-in-afghanistan-lauded-at-funeral/

COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Indiana gymnasium floor of Jonathon Hunter’s former high school became a place to pay final respects to the solider killed this month in Afghanistan.

Family, friends, soldiers and dignitaries gathered Saturday for Hunter’s funeral at Columbus East High School, from which he graduated in 2011. He was lauded for his love of children, music, sports and service to his country.

Army Chaplain Clifford Pappe says Hunter “touched many lives” as an individual, athlete and soldier.

The 23-year-old Army sergeant and 25-year-old Spec. Christopher Harris of Jackson Springs, North Carolina, were killed during an Aug. 2 attack on a NATO convoy. They were with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.khaama.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/NATO-helicopter-crash-in-Kabul1-665x442.jpg

A US died and six others were wounded after a helicopter crashed in central Logar province of Afghanistan late on Friday.

“A U.S. service member has died as a result of injuries sustained during a helicopter crash in Logar province, late Friday evening,” the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said in a statement.


The statement further added “We can confirm the crash was not the result of enemy action. We have full accountability of all personnel and the crash site has been secured. Six other U.S. crew members were injured in the crash and are all receiving medical treatment.”

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our comrade,” said General John Nicholson, commander, Resolute Support. “On behalf of all of Resolute Support, our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends of our fallen comrade and those injured in this unfortunate event.”

NATO says the Resolute Support is investigating the circumstances of the crash to determine more facts and will release relevant details as appropriate.

This comes as the Taliban group had earlier claimed that the group was involved behind the downing of the helicopter.

A spokesman for the group Zabiullah Mujahid claimed that 43 US and Afghan soldiers were killed in the incident.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.khaama.com/nato-reaffirm...forces-lose-soldier-in-logar-operations-03654

The commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan General John Nicholson reaffirmed the support of the alliance to Afghanistan as the US forces lost a soldier during the counter-terrorism operations in central Logar province of Afghanistan.

Gen. Nicholson who is also in command of the US forces in Afghanistan, said “On behalf of U.S. Forces – Afghanistan, we offer our deepest condolences to the family of our fallen brother.”

Reaffirming the alliance’s strong support to Afghanistan, Gen. Nicholson said “Despite this tragic event, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the Afghan people and to support them in our mutual fight against terrorism.”

The alliance in a statement said U.S. service member has died as a result of wounds sustained during operations in Logar province, Saturday afternoon.

No further details have been given regarding the identity of the deceased soldier, saying more information will be released as appropriate.

This comes as the US forces based in Afghanistan have stepped up counter-terrorism operations during the recent months.

Announcing the new US strategy for South Asia late in August, President Donald Trump also emphasized on continued counter-terrorism efforts of the US forces in Afghanistan.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.khaama.com/nato-plus-up-will-give-afghan-forces-an-offensive-boost-gen-nicholson-03831

The commander of the NATO Resolute Support Mission and the US forces in Afghanistan says with an increase in troops, the U.S. and NATO strategy in Afghanistan has a good chance of enabling Afghan security forces to do more to secure their country.

“We fought most of the year … at the lowest level of capability that we’ve ever had in the 16 years [of the Afghan conflict],” Nicholson was quoted as saying in a statemetn by Pentagon.

He also added that “It was the lowest level of capability and the highest level of risk we’ve faced in this time.”

According to Gen. Nicholson, part of the problem is the NATO train and assist mission was not completely resourced. “We were only at an 80 percent fill on our combined joint statement of requirements,” he said.

He said the new strategy will help and it builds on the four-year plan from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

The plan calls for increasing the offensive capability of the Afghan military — specifically the commandos and air assets, the NATO commander said, adding that additional trainers will allow them to go on the offensive and provide security over a greater area of the country.

He also added that “This, coupled with pressure on the external enablers of the insurgency, as well as social pressure at the ballot box, with the elections over the next two years, is all designed to bring the Taliban to the table,” he said. “So this is a fight-and-talk approach.”

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.khaama.com/4-us-soldiers-wounded-in-kandahar-suicide-car-bombing-03842

At least four US soldiers sustained injuries in a suicide car bomb attack in southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan.

The incident took place on Monday afternoon in the vicinity of Dand district of Kandahar province after a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle packed with explosives near the convoy of the foreign forces.

“Four U.S. soldiers were wounded in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, according to Army Lt. Col. Koné Faulkner, a spokesman for the Resolute Support mission.

“We can confirm reports that a vehicle-born improvised explosive device detonated in Kandahar province at approximately 2 p.m. today,” Faulkner told Military Times. “There were a total of four U.S. service members injured and all are in stable condition in U.S. medical treatment facilities.

He said there were no coalition fatalities as a result of the attack, he added

The Taliban militants group in Afghanistan has claimed responsibility behind the attack.

This comes as the security situation in Kandahar had proven during the recent months although the anti-government armed militant groups are attempting to destabilize the key southern provinces.

According to the security officials, the anti-government armed militant groups are attempting to carry out suicide bombings and indirect attacks as their insurgency was suppressed during the offensive counter-terrorism operations in the summer time.

 

[Hindustani78]

Pakistan threatens to shoot down US drones
By Khaama Press - Sat Dec 09 2017, 2:22 pm

http://www.khaama.com/pakistan-threatens-to-shoot-down-us-drones-04009

The Pakistani Air Force has threatened to react to any airborne threat including the violation of the Pakistani airspace by the enemy planes or US drones.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman has said the violators of Pakistan’s airspace will not be spared — be it an enemy aircraft or a US drone.

He said the US authorities have been warned that their drones would be knocked down if they entered the country’s airspace again.

The latest remarks by Pakistan’s Chief of Ari Staff come as Washington has stepped up pressures on Islamabad to act against the terror safe havens, particularly the notorious Haqqani terrorist network.

The Afghan and US officials have long been criticizing Pakistan for its failure to act against the terror network although they have said that the country has take strict actions against the terror groups posing threat to the Pakistani government.

The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has warned that the United States will take necessary steps if Pakistan fails to destroy terror safe havens in its soil.

Ahead of Secretary of Defense James Mattis visit to Pakisstan, Mike Pameo had said the defense secretary James Mattis was travelling to Pakistan to “make clear the president’s intent” and “will deliver the message that we would love you to do that.

“And that the safe haven inside of Pakistan has worked to the detriment of our capacity to do what we needed to do in Afghanistan,” he added.

 

[Hindustani78]

“A M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) conducts a strike on a Taliban narcotics production facility in Helmand province on December 8, 2017,” the US Force in Afghanistan said.

According to a statement by USFOR-a “The artillery strike, part of an ongoing campaign by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and United States Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A), resulted in the destruction of nearly $1 million.

The US military says HIMARS is yet another U.S. capability being utilized to apply pressure , cutting off their economic lifelines and degrading their ability to continue operations.

“In just over three days’ worth of operations, the Afghan 215th Corps, their special forces commandos, their air force, in close cooperation with U.S. forces, removed between $7 million and $10 million of revenue from the Taliban’s pocketbook,” Gen. Nicholson said.

He also added “And the overall cost to the drug trafficking organizations approached $48 million. So these strikes were just the first step in attacking the financial engine, and they will continue.”

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/us-soldier-killed-in-afghan-vehicle-accident/512103.html

Kabul, December 12

An American NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) service member died due to he sustained in a vehicle accident in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, the coalition forces announced on Tuesday.

"Monday's incident was not the result of enemy action. Two other US service members were also injured and are receiving medical treatment," Xinhua news agency quoted the forces as saying in a statement. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own," said Gen. John Nicholson, commander of RS and US Forces-Afghanistan.

"Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with the families and friends of our fallen and injured comrades." The NATO and US forces completed their combat mission in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, after 13 years of military presence in the country.

Around 13,000 foreign troops remain in Afghanistan to train and assist security forces in their fight against the Taliban. — IANS.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-a-tough-place-but-us-forces-are-winning-president-trump-04058
Afghanistan a tough place but US forces are winning: President Trump
By Khaama Press - Sat Dec 16 2017, 5:19 pm

The US President Donald Trump is optimistic regarding the US-led campaign against the terror groups in Afghanistan as he admits that Afghanistan is a tough place to win.

In his speech to Marine Helicopter squadron One, President Trump said “You know, we’ve made tremendous success and had tremendous success now with getting rid of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. I let them do their job. You don’t have to call the White House when you’re getting ready to fight. You know, in the old times — the last administration — you called the White House and you get approval. Not anymore. Not anymore.”

“So they went out; they’ve done their job. I hear we’re doing really good in Afghanistan. You saw that. I let them do their job. And I let the colonels and the majors and the all of them — the captains — that’s what they do. They graduate, they’re smart, they’re tough, and they do their job. They don’t have to call me to get approval to go into battle with people in places that most people never heard of, but they’re very important,” he added.

He also added “But we’ve made tremendous progress in Afghanistan, which is tough, because history has proven Afghanistan is a tough place to win. But we’re winning. We just started winning.”

This comes as President Trump announced his administration’s policy for South Asia late in August this year as he emphasized on continued US mission in Afghanistan.

President Trump warned that the consequences of a rapid exit are both predictable and unacceptable. “9/11, the worst terrorist attack in our history, was planned and directed from Afghanistan because that country was ruled by a government that gave comfort and shelter to terrorists. A hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists, including ISIS and al Qaeda, would instantly fill, just as happened before September 11th,” he added.

President Trump also added “I concluded that the security threats we face in Afghanistan and the broader region are immense. Today, 20 U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations are active in Afghanistan and Pakistan — the highest concentration in any region anywhere in the world.”

 

[Trango Towers]

where are the hanuman soldiers to help the charsi army?

hanuman can fight a two front war with China and Pakistan and it can't handle a simple encounter with a few rebels? LOL!

Monkeys on chars as well. Looool

 

[BATMAN]

Why is Afghanistan a tough place for American troops?

 

[undercover JIX]

Tough place, because USA does not have any clear directions, pretending to do something else but goals are something else. in all this confusion, mix up, cover up etc unable to manage the situation and now looking for escape goats.

 

[LeGenD]

Why is Afghanistan a tough place for American troops?

LOL

It is a tough place for virtually any invading force. Dispatch Pakistan Army into Afghanistan and see what happens. Afghans are a strange bunch actually; they never tire from infighting and politics of revenge. It is nearly impossible to get them all to cooperate with each other.