Move FM Global News

KABUL, Afghanistan – Two U.S. service members were killed Monday in Afghanistan, the NATO-led mission in the country said in a statement published the same day.

“Two U.S. service members were killed July 29, 2019 in Afghanistan,” Operation Resolution Support’s statement said.

“In accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy, the names of the service members killed in action are being witheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete,” the statement added.

While the mission did not disclose the circumstances of the soldiers’ deaths, a number of media outlets are saying the deaths were as the result of a suspected “green on blue attack,” or an attack by an Afghan soldier on U.S. troops.

The suspected insider attack comes at a time U.S. President Donald Trump is showing signs he is becoming fatigued by the 18-years old war, and is looking to get the United States out of it.

He met recently with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan who he encouraged to use his contacts with the Taliban to try and accelerate talks which have been ongoing, but amounting to little. Khan on Monday said he was looking to have direct talks with Taliban representatives.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has confirmed he has been told by Mr Trump that U.S. forces in the war-ravaged country are to be reduced prior to the 2020 election, which Mr Trump is contesting.

“That’s my directive from the president of the United States. He’s been unambiguous: End the endless wars. Draw down. Reduce. It won’t just be us,” Pompeo said Monday when speaking at the Economic Club of Washington.

“We hope that overall the need for combat forces in the region is reduced,” he said.

The comments have raised ire in Kabul. “Now suddenly adhering to the date suited to Trump’s election date has become more important than the meticulous task of bringing peace to Afghanistan,” a senior Afghan official who is also a close aide to President Ashraf Ghani, was quoted by Reuters as saying Tuesday.

“The American haste to pull out foreign troops has only provided more leverage to the Taliban. Afghan forces will be soon abandoned to fight the war alone,” said the official, who did not want to be identified.

The U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and overthrew the Taliban which was governing the country, while attempting to hunt down Osama bin Laden, which the U.S. determined was behind the September 11 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

After 18 years of fighting the Taliban, and other forces in Afghanistan, the U.S. appears to be prepared to allow the Taliban to return to government in one form or another.

In the meantime the killing goes on. On Tuesday the UN released figures saying at least 3,812 Afghan civilians were killed or wounded in the first half of this year.