KABUL: (MEP) The United States plans to send hundreds of troops already stationed in Afghanistan to Helmand province to thwart Taliban, the Guardian newspaper reported.
The newspaper reported that a force described as battalion-strength and consisting mostly of army soldiers, will arrive in the province by the end of the month.
Helmand has been the scene of heavy clashes between Afghan security forces and insurgents these past few months and the scene of numerous battles in the past ten years. U. S and British troops tried for years to drive out the Taliban in this province.
However, the Guardian reported that in keeping with the bilateral security agreement, U.S troops will not be there in a combat role but that they will help the existing Helmand troops to defend themselves against Taliban attacks.
Last week, outgoing commander of the U.S forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John Campbell testified to Congress that the 215th Corps recently had its commander replaced amid performance and corruption concerns, and has endured “unusually high operating tempo for long periods of time”.
The 215th Corps has endured “unusually high operating tempo for long periods of time,” but had its commander replaced over performance and corruption concerns, outgoing US commander General John Campbell told the US Congress last week.
He also said that despite rules of engagement, which prevent US troops from initiating frights with the Taliban, he has “no restrictions on providing force protection” for troops who train Afghans.
According to a Pentagon report released last month, the security situation in Afghanistan declined in the second half of 2015, with Taliban militants staging more attacks and inflicting far more casualties on Afghan forces.
The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror.
Despite a previous pledge to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by the end of his presidency, President Barack Obama has announced plans to keep 5,500 of the troops in the country when he leaves office in 2017.
