US forces conduct 1st airstrike on Taliban after peace pact

KABUL: The US forces in Afghanistan conducted a defensive airstrike in support of Afghan security forces in southern Helmand province on Wednesday, the first raid after a US-Taliban deal was signed.

The strike was launched against Taliban fighters in Nahr-e-Saraj district after their attack on an Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) checkpoint, Colonel Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the US Forces in Afghanistan tweeted, Xinhua news agency reported. “This was a defensive strike to disrupt the attack. This was our first strike against the Taliban in 11 days,” he said.

On February 29, Taliban’s political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad signed the peace deal in Doha, Qatar. Under the accord, the US and NATO will completely pull out their troops from Afghanistan in 14 months, while the Taliban would start an intra-Afghan dialogue.

“To be clear, we are committed to peace, however, we have the responsibility to defend our ANDSF partners,” said the spokesman. “Taliban leadership promised the international community they would reduce violence and not increase attacks. We call on the Taliban to stop needless attacks and uphold their commitments. As we have demonstrated, we will defend our partners when required.” (IANS)

Also Read: Talks with the US started secretly under Obama, says Taliban

Also Watch: Coal laden truck overturns at Tinsukia-Makum bypass road, Driver injured