DefenceTalkThe overall security situation in Afghanistan deteriorated in the second half of 2015, with an increase in insurgent attacks and higher casualties among both Taliban and national forces, a Pentagon report stated Tuesday. This month marks a year since the US- and NATO-led mission in Afghanistan transitioned into an Afghan-led operation, with allied nations assisting […]https://www.defencetalk.com/afghan-security-worse-in-second-part-of-2015-pentagon-66109/

DefenceTalkWASHINGTON: America’s longest war began in Afghanistan 14 years ago, sucking in hundreds of thousands of troops and costing Washington billions of dollars and huge political capital. President Barack Obama’s announcement on Thursday he was delaying the pullout of US troops beyond 2016 marks the umpteenth change of strategy aimed at stopping the Afghan quagmire […]https://www.defencetalk.com/americas-14-years-in-the-afghan-quagmire-65640/

DefenceTalkThe Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, amid requests from military leaders to keep more troops there, U.S. officials said Monday. Although no final decision on numbers has been made, U.S. officials say, most of the nearly 10,000 U.S. troops currently in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-to-scrap-afghanistan-drawdown-plan-63547/

DefenceTalkMore than three decades of war have damaged Afghanistan’s once-thriving carpet industry, but weavers are tapping into the bloody past to boost their fortunes with “war rugs” depicting guns, tanks and warplanes. On Chicken Street, the most famous street in Afghanistan during the “hippie trail” tourist days of the late 60s and 70s and still […]https://www.defencetalk.com/from-ak47s-to-drones-afghans-war-rugs-reflect-bloody-decades-63399/

DefenceTalkLeaders from the 201st and 203rd Afghan National Army Corps, Afghan Border Police zones 301 and 402, the 11th Pakistan Army Corps, and a delegation from Resolute Support headquarters discussed border security at an event hosted by Train, Advise, Assist Command – East, or TAAC-E, at Operational Base Fenty in Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2015. For […]https://www.defencetalk.com/afghan-pakistani-military-leaders-coordinate-border-security-62186/

DefenceTalkRecently, POGO reported on the failed attempt to provide C-27A Spartan aircraft to the Afghans in order to fulfill their medium airlift requirements. Now, the successor effort to replace the C-27As with C-130Hs is also experiencing turbulence. Fortunately, after the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) sounded the alarm, a congressional committee has taken […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-efforts-to-stand-up-afghan-air-force-still-falling-down-60275/

DefenceTalkPresident Barack Obama recently announced that, following the end of major combat operations in Afghanistan this year, the United States will retain a residual force of 9,800 troops to continue to train local security forces and conduct counterterrorism operations. Under this new plan, the number of troops in Afghanistan will continue to decline until Fiscal […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-afghan-war-plan-announced-but-how-much-will-it-cost-59746/

DefenceTalkDefence Secretary Philip Hammond has visited Afghanistan to mark the latest milestone in the drawdown of UK forces. Mr Hammond was in the country to witness the closure of Observation Post Sterga, the last remaining forward base to be used by UK troops. The closure of Sterga means that the only UK troops remaining in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/britain-closes-final-forward-base-in-afghanistan-59553/

DefenceTalkIt may be small, but a 60mm mortar round has a blast radius of over 20 meters and can be fired at enemies three and a half kilometers away. The M224 60mm mortar system has become a staple of American light infantry operations, and now it’s becoming one for the Afghan National Army. Members of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/10th-mountain-division-soldiers-teach-afghan-60mm-mortar-system-50097/

DefenceTalkAt the end of 2014, the International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan is scheduled to end, and a new train, advise and assist mission called Resolute Support begins. During Europe’s recent combat training conference, the top brass of more than 35 nations outlined a way ahead to prepare for the transition that involves combined […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-envisions-afghan-mission-change-to-train-advise-assist-49804/