Defensive Strike: US Airstrike Aims To Defend Afghan Forces Against Taliban

To defend Afghan forces from a string of deadly attacks by Taliban fighters, the US launched an airstrike against militants Wednesday, an American military spokesman confirmed.

According to an article by Bangkok Post, the airstrike in southern Helmand province came hours after US President Donald Trump said he had a "very good" conversation with the Taliban political chief.

It can be recalled that Washington and the Taliban on Saturday signed a historic deal in Doha to withdraw foreign forces.

However, not long since the deal was sealed, the militants have launched attacks against Afghan forces, signifying the end of a partial weeklong truce.

In a tweet by US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Sonny Leggett, he said the airstrike was aimed at Taliban fighters who were "actively attacking" an Afghan forces checkpoint located in Helmand province.

"This was a defensive strike to disrupt the attack," he wrote.

"We call on the Taliban to stop needless attacks and uphold their commitments. As we have demonstrated, we will defend our partners when required."

The official added that on Tuesday alone, the militants have carried a total of 43 attacks in Helmand checkpoints killing at least 20 Afghan soldiers and policemen.

An Afghan government official said the attacks have may have casted a pall over peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban which is set to begin on March 10.

"Taliban fighters attacked at least three army outposts in Imam Sahib district of Kunduz last night, killing at least 10 soldiers and four police," said Safiullah Amiri, a provincial council member.

Aside from Helmand, the insurgents also attacked police in central Uruzgan province Tuesday night, the governor's spokesman Zergai Ebadi confimed.

"Unfortunately, six police were killed and seven wounded," said Ebadi.

Taliban political chief Mullah Baradar previously told reporters that he and President Trump had a "very good" 35-minute chat over phone.

"The relationship is very good that I have with the mullah. We had a good long conversation today and you know, they want to cease the violence, they'd like to cease violence also," he said.

But on US military spokesman Leggett's tweet Wednesday, he warned that the "#Afghans & US have complied w/ our agreements; however, Talibs appear intent on squandering this (opportunity) and ignoring the will of the people for #peace."

The Doha Deal

The Doha deal aims to end the bloody, 18-year US military presence in Afghanistan.

Under the terms of the deal, US and other foreign forces will leave from Afghanistan within 14 months, subject to Taliban security guarantees.

Aside from this the Taliban pledged to hold an intra-Afghan dialogue with the Kabul government.

Also part of the deal is the release of 5,000 Taliban members from prison in return for 1,000 captives.

For US President Trump, the Taliban and Washington both "have a very common interest" in ending the war.

According to an article by Aljazeera, Afghan people have mixed feelings of hope and fear towards the deal.

Pharmacist Mohammed Aziz expressed high hopes on the future of the country.

"The agreement between the American and the Taliban will have lots of effects on the Afghan people because the security of the Afghans is in the hand of the Americans."

Meanwhile, those who live outside Kabul where the Taliban once ruled are skeptical. Taliban rules nearly half of the country, mainly the rural areas not infiltrated by the American forces.

"If the Taliban comes back, I won't be able to run my business," said CD vendor Shukur Mohamat. "They forbid music. We have to leave the country. For the past 40 years, foreigners didn't let us live in peace. That's why the country is in this situation. It's better if they leave. There will be no peace with the Taliban. It will be worse. I'm scared."

Bibi Gul, who lost her husband and four other family members in a suicide attack by the Taliban wanted the American forces to stay.

Widow with seven children.

"We've never had helped from anyone. It's a miserable life," said the widow with seven children. "My sons collect trash so we can burn it in the stove. The foreigners (Americans) must stay. I haven't seen anything good with the government and the Taliban destroyed our lives. It's because of them that we became beggars. It's humiliating. Only the foreigners can help us."

Despite being told that the Taliban will fully withdraw soon and there is a sense of victory, Afghans remain cautious about the future.