Pentagon Admits Taliban Control Half of Afghan District Centers
Voice of America
WASHINGTON - Estimates showing the Taliban rapidly taking control of territory across Afghanistan are not an illusion, according to the United States' top-ranking military official, who admits the coming months will be a "test of will and leadership" for the Afghan government. General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Wednesday about 212 of Afghanistan's district centers — about half — are currently in Taliban hands, and that Taliban forces are advancing on the outskirts of 17 of the country's 34 provincial capitals. "Strategic momentum sort of appears to be sort of with the Taliban," Milley told reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon. "What they're trying to do is isolate the major population centers," he added. "They're trying to do the same thing to Kabul, and roughly speaking … a significant amount of territory has been seized." The admission comes two and a half months after the U.S. and its allies began pulling their last remaining combat forces from Afghanistan, and despite assurances from top U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, that a Taliban takeover is "highly unlikely." #Afghanistan - "Warfare is not just about numbers" per @thejointstaff's Gen Milley, asked about appearances of a #Taliban victoryAdmits about half of the districts are in Taliban hands"This is going to be a test of will and leadership" he says of #Afghan's gvt
But independent trackers, such as one compiled by the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Long War Journal, have raised concerns, noting that the Taliban have nearly tripled the number of districts under their control since the withdrawal officially began on May 1. A number of intelligence agencies have likewise sounded alarms, warning in a United Nations report last month that the Taliban were preparing to take by force what they could not get through negotiations. The report further warned that top Taliban deputies continue to "favor a military solution."India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) greets supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during his election campaign rally in Prayagraj, northern India, on May 21, 2024. People queue up to vote outside a polling booth during the fifth round of multi-phase national election in Howrah, India, May 20, 2024. Supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wear party headwear and cut out masks India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election campaign rally attended by Modi in Prayagraj on May 21, 2024.
FILE PHOTO: Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te's inauguration ceremony at the Presidential office building in Taipei Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te, right, and former President Tsai Ing-wen wave during Lai's inauguration ceremonies in Taipei, Taiwan, May 20, 2024.
FILE - A boy waves a Palestinian flag in Barcelona, Spain, on Jan. 20, 2024. European Union countries Spain and Ireland as well as Norway on Wednesday announced dates for recognizing Palestine as a state. A ship transporting international humanitarian aid is moored at the US-built Trident Pier near Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on May 21, 2024.
People queue up to vote outside a polling booth during the fifth round of multi-phase national election in Howrah, India, May 20, 2024. A woman carrying her daughter leaves after casting vote in a polling station during the fifth round of multi-phase national elections in Mumbai, India, May 20, 2024.
Ukrainian servicemen of the 92nd separate assault brigade load shells in an M109 self-propelled howitzer before firing towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv region, Ukraine May 20, 2024. In this photo released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on May 21, 2024, a Russian crew prepares a Tu-22M3 bomber for a training mission as part of drills to train the military for using tactical nuclear weapons at an undisclosed location in Russia.