U.S. General vows to annihilate IS in Afghanistan

“We will not fail in Afghanistan,” Gen. Nicholson said. “Our national security depends on it, as well as Afghanistan’s security, and our allies and partners.”

Afghanistan’s security forces, with the help of U.S. and NATO ground and air support, will annihilate the Islamic State group affiliate in the country and crush remnants of al-Qaeda, Gen. John Nicholson, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, vowed on Thursday.

Gen. Nicholson also had a message for the Taliban- “Stop fighting against your countrymen. Stop killing innocent civilians. Stop bringing hardship and misery to the Afghan people. Lay down your arms and join Afghan society. Help build a better future for this country and your own children.”

Gen. Nicholson and Hugo Llorens, the U.S. Embassy’s Special Chargş d’Affaires, told reporters in the capital Kabul that President Donald Trump’s new strategy for Afghanistan announced on Monday was a promise to Afghans that together they would defeat terrorism and prevent terrorist groups from establishing safe havens.

“We will not fail in



Afghanistan,” Gen. Nicholson said. “Our national security depends on it, as well as Afghanistan’s security, and our allies and partners.”

But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid was defiant in a telephone interview with The Associated Press- “We are not giving our guns to any one and our Taliban are fighting until the last U.S. soldier is no longer here in Afghanistan.”

Senior U.S. officials have said that Mr. Trump may send up to 3,900 more troops, with some deployments beginning almost immediately. Gen. Nicholson did not offer a time frame for deployment, however, saying only that “in the coming months, U.S. Forces Afghanistan and NATO will increase its train, advise and assist efforts in Afghanistan. And we will increase our air support to Afghan security forces.”

Gen. Nicholson had particular praise for Afghanistan’s commandos and special forces known as Ktah Khas, saying they had yet to lose a battle and plans were being made to double their size.

“The Taliban have never won against the commandos and Ktah Khas,” he said. “They never will.”