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| Afghanistan |
| Afghan Government Lost 2 Percent of Territory This Summer |
| 2016-11-01 |
| [Free Beacon] The Afghan government lost control of 2 percent of its territory this summer, as Taliban insurgents have continued to launch attacks in an ongoing conflict that top officials describe as a "stalemate." The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction released its quarterly report to Congress over the weekend, naming the Taliban insurgency as the "most immediate challenge" to ongoing U.S. efforts to rebuild the war-torn country. The report, citing figures from U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, states that the Afghan government controlled or influenced approximately 63.4 percent of Afghanistan’s districts as of August 28, over two percent less than the 65.6 percent it controlled three months earlier. The Taliban wields the most substantial power in Helmand province, where 21 percent of districts are either controlled or influenced by insurgents. The Afghan government controls 258 of the country’s 407 districts, while insurgents hold 33 districts and 116 districts are contested. The special inspector general report preceded the publication of a New York Times article outlining how Taliban fighters have gained ground in Helmand, Kunduz, and Uruzgan provinces over the last week as Afghan forces have surrendered their posts. Con't. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |