Taliban can t win militarily: US commander

Kabul Aug 22 (IANS) General John Nicholson the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan on Tuesday said the Taliban cannot win the war in Afghanistan by military means.

He made the comments in the wake of US President Donald Trump s announcement of a new approach to Afghanistan and South Asia.

"This new strategy means the Taliban cannot win militarily. Now is the time to renounce violence and reconcile " Xinhua news agency quoted Nicholson as saying.

"Our Afghan partners know that our commitment is strong and enduring. Our future presence will be based on conditions and not arbitrary timelines " he said.

Revealing his new Afghan strategy Trump on Monday said a rapid exit of the US troops from Afghanistan was "unacceptable" and his new strategy would shift from a time-based approach to one based on conditions on the ground.

"A peaceful stable Afghanistan is victory for the Afghan people and the goal of the Coalition " Nicholson noted.

The announcement of new Afghan plan came as fighting has escalated and Taliban insurgents and Islamic State (IS) militants have intensified their activities by launching attacks across the war-hit country.

The NATO and US forces completed their combat mission in Afghanistan by the end of 2014 after 13 years of military presence.

About 13 000 foreign forces are currently stationed in Afghanistan for the NATO-led Resolute Support to help Afghan forces in the fields of training advising and backing them in the war on insurgents.

--IANS
py/mr