The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack on US convoy that killed one American soldier in Northern Afghanistan. Last time when the Taliban killed a US soldier, US President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled peace talks with the insurgent group.
Taliban is 100% Controlled By Pakistan To Counter Indian Presence in Afghanistan
According to US Forces-Afghanistan, one American service member died in combat Monday following an attack. The US did not release any additional information.
The killing is likely to have a severe impact on ongoing talks between the US and the Taliban. President Donald Trump in September declared negotiations “dead” after the Taliban killed a US soldier in a Kabul bombing.
Negotiations have since restarted in Doha but were earlier this month put on a “pause” following yet another bombing at the Bagram airbase north of Kabul.
Earlier, Washington had warned Pakistan that its deteriorating relations with Afghanistan will not be helpful for the peace process in the region. Senior officials at the foreign ministry stated that the US was really disturbed over the ‘cold war’ brewing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, damaging the peace talks with the Taliban.
“In accordance with the US Department of Defense policy, the name of the service member killed in action was being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete,” said the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.
In a WhatsApp message to AFP, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said insurgents “blew up an American vehicle in Char Dara district of Kunduz” late Sunday night.
Depending on how one qualifies a combat-related death, at least 20 American troops have been killed in action in Afghanistan this year following Monday’s announcement.
That makes 2019 the deadliest for US forces since combat operations officially finished at the end of 2014, and highlights the challenging security situation that persists across much of Afghanistan. More than 2,400 US troops have been killed in combat in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion in October 2001.
The attack comes one day after officials announced preliminary results in Afghanistan’s presidential elections that put President Ashraf Ghani on track to secure a second term. The Taliban have long viewed Ghani as an American stooge.
Via: Reuters
