Afghanistan Times
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AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell, the deputy commander of Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan said the US-led International community has been in dire need to further militarily and financially pressurize and suppress the Taliban and other terrorist outfits during this winter.
The Resolute Support deputy commander said the US and NATO forces would continue their support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces during the winter in a bid to force the militant groups to shun violence and join the peace and reconciliation process.
He made the remarks at a ceremony held on end of a Resolute Support commander in the wet zone on Friday.
“We arrived at a challenging time, but progress is being made. Together with our Afghan partners we continue to press the enemy throughout the winter applying financial and social pressure as well as military affects,” the Resolute Support deputy commander added.
Following President Ghani and top US Gen. Nicholson’s remarks, he said the size of the Afghan Special Force and the Air Force would be doubled and tripled next year.
Addressing the ceremony, the Italy’s Ambassador in Kabul Roberto Cantone said his country has been committed to continue its support to Afghanistan.
“(Our efforts) continue with the responsibility of training, advising and assistance operations within Resolute Support mission and will continue in the future with the new initiatives for the development of the region in the field of infrastructures, health and education among other,” he said.
Meanwhile, the top Afghan officials have emphasized on further role of NATO forces, including Italian soldiers which are very much important for Afghan forces in the battlegrounds and in trainings.
“The support of the Resolute Support mission is 100 percent required for the Afghan security forces in order to fight the enemies of this country together,” said Gen. Mohammad Juma Adil, Commander of 606 Zone of Police in the province.
