Pentagon Promises to Intensify Efforts Against Daesh in Afghanistan
21:33 11.02.2016(updated 21:42 11.02.2016)
The United States is stepping up efforts against the Islamic State and Taliban extremists in Afghanistan to counter gains they have achieved, US Resolute Support mission spokesman Army Brig. Gen. Wilson Shoffner told reporters on Thursday.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Washington has 'significantly increased' pressure on the Daesh in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province in the past three weeks, Shoffner said.
Moreover, a US Army infantry battalion would soon replace the existing unit in the southern Helmand province conducting 'force protection' operations, he added, where the Taliban have recently taken hold of the province and increased operations there.
Shoffner confirmed that the United States was increasing the number of soldiers in the Helmand province to conduct more training of Afghan forces as well as, advise and assist missions.
'We're gonna continue to try to look at how we can do the advising mission more efficiently and more effectively within the authorities we have,' Shoffner stated. We're gonna provide or allocate as many forces as we need for force protection wherever it is in the country whether it's in Helmand or somewhere else.'
Shoffner remarks come as the Taliban and the Islamic State, also known as Daesh, have made significant gains in the eastern and southern parts of Afghanistan. The advances have forced Washington to give more authority to its forces to expand its mission in Afghanistan.
© Sputnik
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