The speculations concerning the impending fall of Kabul to Taliban had the Pentagon pointing out the strength of the Afghan armed forces, both in terms of numbers and equipment.
Some reports indicate that the Taliban has already seized control of ten Provinces and over 60 percent of the country’s land.
Placing the responsibility of resisting the Taliban advances on the Afghan Government, John Kirby, the Press Secretary of the Department of Defense, said that the US had not only trained but even equipped the 300,000 strong Afghan Army with modern weaponry.
The US has given 30 aircraft and three black hawks to Afghanistan, and is currently assisting the Ashraf Ghani-led government by launching airstrikes against the Taliban, even as recently as within the last 24-48 hours, said Mr. Kirby.
Mr. Kirby asserted that the US had improved the conditions in Afghanistan over the last two decades by getting more children to schools and striving for women’s equality.
Responding to a question, Mr. Kirby said that it is never too late for peace. However, the Press Secretary condemned the Taliban for seizing provinces with brutality and continuing their relationship with Al-Qaeda and said that their actions are not in resonance with what they said during the talks for a peace deal that was reached in February 2020.
Is Vaccine Mandatory for the troops?
Mr. John Kirby, a retired rear admiral of the Navy, said that he himself took eight jabs while entering the service, and once the vaccine is mandated, it becomes a lawful order. But meanwhile, the commanders would have a range of tools available to them, including counseling, to get the troops vaccinated.
Over 70 percent of the Navy, over 60 percent of the Air Force and over 50 percent of the Army have taken at least one dose of the vaccine so far.