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           Taliban: New US Military Plans Will Not Deter Its Campaign

   by Ayaz Gul

   The Taliban dismissed Wednesday as "empty talk" a U.S. military
   announcement it would base hundreds of extra troops close to
   Afghanistan and they will be ready to deploy to the war zone if
   needed.

   The Islamist insurgency's statement came a day after the top U.S.
   commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, revealed that about
   400 American troops, in addition to the 8,400 in the country, will be
   placed "over the horizon", but did not disclose where.

   More soldiers deployed
   ''The general also said he is using "almost daily" new military
   authorities President Barack Obama granted, including airstrikes
   against the Taliban and other support to Afghan troop to enable them to
   take the offense.'

   Taliban resistance
   Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that giving greater powers
   to U.S soldiers and placing a few hundred of them outside Afghan
   territory will not deter his group's actions. Instead of giving "empty
   talk" and making "repetitive and futile statements", he added, the
   Untied States and its allies should end their "occupation" of the
   country.
   "Our struggle against the invaders shall continue until the complete
   independence of our country and establishment of pathway for an Islamic
   system. No threat can ever stop our struggle in this path," Mujahid
   asserted in a statement sent to media.

   Nicholson explained the deployment of extra troops is part of the U.S.
   commitment to NATO's Afghan advise-and-assist mission.He discussed the
   plan Tuesday at a briefing he gave during Defense Secretary Ashton
   Carter's visit to Afghanistan.

   "American leaders, including the defense secretary, should have learned
   much from their predecessors. Many plans have been aborted here and
   many generals and armies handed defeat and disappointment," said the
   Taliban spokesman.

   Carter's brief trip to Kabul came only days after NATO allies met in
   Warsaw, Poland, and promised to keep troop levels stable in Afghanistan
   to battle a the resilient Taliban.
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   ll-not-deter-its-campaign/3416480.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/taliban-says-new-us-military-plans-will-not-deter-its-campaign/3416480.html