Afghanistan's already understaffed police force is suffering heavy casualties, prompting a move to pull back from vulnerable outposts across the country
An Afghan police officer keeps watch near the site of a suicide car bomb blast in Kandahar. Afghanistan July 18, 2019.
Abdul Moqim Abdulrahimzai, the director general of operations and plans at the interior ministry, said more than 210 police outposts and checkpoints had been closed in 17 provinces and another 200 had been identified for closure. The government no longer issues detailed casualty figures but officials say around half of the tens of thousands of losses suffered over the years were at isolated checkpoints.
The issue has gained renewed importance as the Taliban negotiate with the United States over a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops as a first step towards opening full peace talks with the Afghan government. As the pullback continues, however, officials must persuade the public that it means more than just abandoning ground to the Taliban.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pakistan Prime Minister Khan says he will try to persuade Taliban to meet Afghan governmentPakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said he would try meet with the T...
Read more »
Afghan government asks for clarification of Trump's remarksTrump made the remarks Monday while meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose help he seeks in negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban that would also see U.S. forces withdraw from Afghanistan.
Read more »
Trump says he could win war in Afghanistan but doesn't want to kill millionsPres. Trump claims he could win Afghan war 'in a week. I just don't want to kill 10 million people.' 'I have plans on Afghanistan, that, if I wanted to win that war, Afghanistan would be wiped off the face of the earth...I don't want to go that route.'
Read more »
'Spider-Man: Far From Home' Star Jake Gyllenhaal Pulls Back the Curtain on MysterioThe actor spent months keeping the true nature of his role a secret — including on the press tour: 'The characters who teach our heroes a lesson don’t always have to be like Obi-Wan.'
Read more »
Footage shows isolated Amazon tribe threatened by loggers'We're using these images as a cry for help.' An indigenous film collective from Brazil has released new footage of the isolated Awá tribe in the Amazon rainforest
Read more »