Update: ‘No reduction in enemy attacks,’ says Afghanistan’s acting defence minister
 

Update: ‘No reduction in enemy attacks,’ says Afghanistan’s acting defence minister
By: Gabriel Dominguez - London - Jane's Defense Weekly - 03-24-20
Re: https://www.janes.com/article/95070/...fence-minister

Prospects of a peace settlement in Afghanistan remain elusive as the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Kabul announced on 19 March that Afghan security forces have switched back to an 'active defense' posture against the Taliban as the militant group continues to target government forces across the country, despite a US-Taliban deal signed on 29 February aimed at setting the conditions to end the 18-year-old conflict.

"There has been no reduction in the attacks of the enemy. We have therefore ordered our forces to return to an 'active defense position' from defensive position," said Asadullah Khalid, Afghanistan's acting defense minister. "From now on we should think on attacking the nests and hideouts of the enemies, taking the initiative … and leaving nowhere safe for the enemies to hide," he added.

The minister's statements came ahead of an apparent insider attack carried out the following day on a joint police and army outpost near Qalat - the capital of the southern Afghan province of Zabul - that resulted in at least 17 Afghan security forces being killed.