US exit leaves Afghan troops with uphill task

Chaotic departure from Bagram base highlights challenge in Taliban conflict

BAGRAM, Afghanistan－After US troops withdrew without notifying them, Afghan soldiers guarding the Bagram Air Base have been left with thousands of Taliban prisoners and a deteriorating security situation.

The sprawling military complex near the capital Kabul was at one point home to tens of thousands of US and allied soldiers, and one of the most important sites to prosecute the two-decade war in Afghanistan.

But the last of the US soldiers at the base quietly left late last week by shutting off the electricity and slipping away in the night without notifying the base's Afghan commander, effectively completing their withdrawal from Afghanistan and leaving a massive security vacuum that the Afghan military will struggle to fill.

The new commander of the Bagram base, General Mir Assadullah Kohistani, on Monday spoke candidly about the challenges ahead, as reporters were given a tour of the largely deserted base.

"You know, if we compare ourselves with the Americans, it's a big difference," said Kohistani, admitting his forces could not be as "powerful" as the US forces.

"But according to our capabilities… we are trying to do the best and as much as possible to secure and serve all the people."

The lack of a clear handover or transition plan appears to have made the task even more challenging.

Kohistani said he only knew of the foreign forces' exit after they had left.

Meanwhile, in northern Afghanistan, districts are subject to intensive conflicts between the two sides. Taliban militants advanced their attacks against the government security forces, capturing scores of suburban districts in recent weeks.

Intense clashes

The country's Ministry of Defense confirmed on Tuesday that at least 77 Taliban militants were killed as the Afghan Air Force increases the number of raids on the militants' positions. The raids also destroyed vehicles used by the militants and a huge amount of weapons and ammunition, the statement said.

So far, Taliban has not responded to the reports.

In an earlier comment on the US troop pullout, the Taliban had said it welcomed and supported the latest phase of the move. "Their full withdrawal will pave the way for Afghans to decide about their future between themselves," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

Despite the "positive step", the Taliban plan to present a written peace proposal to the Afghan government as soon as next month, the spokesman said.

"The peace talks and process will be accelerated in the coming days… and they are expected to enter an important stage, naturally it will be about peace plans," the spokesman said on Monday.

"Possibly it will take a month to reach that stage when both sides will share their written peace plan," he said, adding that the latest round of talks were at a critical juncture.

"Although we (Taliban) have the upper hand on the battlefield, we are very serious about talks and dialogue."

Responding to a request for comment on the Taliban representative's remarks, a spokesperson for the US State Department said a negotiated settlement was the only way to end 40 years of war in Afghanistan.

"We urge the sides to engage in serious negotiations to determine a political road map for Afghanistan's future that leads to a just and durable settlement, the official said.

Diplomats overseeing the intra-Afghan talks have repeatedly sought neighboring Pakistan's help to convince Taliban leaders to offer a written peace plan even if it took a maximalist line.

Last month, the European Union's special envoy for Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson, said time was running out and that a written proposal would be a sign of successful Pakistani leverage over the Taliban.

Agencies - Xinhua