“What we observed as these Afghan-led operations drove a large portion of Taliban from the city over the last day or so, was the retreating Taliban attacking the more vulnerable surrounding districts, which Afghan forces are reinforcing,” Lt. Col. Martin L. O’Donnell, a U.S. Forces-Afghanistan spokesman, told Fox News. “That said, some Taliban forces remain in the city. These insurgent forces do not pose a threat to the city’s collapse.”
The U.S. and NATO formally concluded their combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, but since have come to the aid of Afghan forces as they struggle to combat the resurgent Taliban.
“They never went away,” Marine veteran and author C.J. Chivers said about the Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan on “The Story with Martha MacCallum.” He noted the war had “unrealistic goals.” He said the Afghan security forces weren’t up to standing alone: “The way we trained them often was too hasty, the equipment wasn’t enough and you don’t make a military in a few years” to fight the Taliban.
The Taliban besieged the base, which housed about 140 Afghan troops, for three days before the attack late Monday, said the local provincial council chief, Mohammad Tahir Rahmani.
Rahmani said the base fell to the Taliban after soldiers ran out of ammo, food and water. He said 43 troops were killed and wounded in the attack but did not give a breakdown.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying 57 Afghan soldiers had surrendered to the Taliban while 17 others were captured. He said eight military Humvees were seized.
The attack on Ghazni came as a shock, The Washington Post reported, because the Taliban used massive force, which included non-Afghan Islamist fighters, and the assault showed signs of long-term planning.
“The Taliban who have hidden themselves amongst the Afghan populace do pose a threat to the civilian population, who were terrorized and harassed,” O’Donnell said.
The fighting has brought civilian life to a standstill, with most residents sheltering indoors.
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