No strategic advantage for Kabul, Taliban in coming war season

The Unites States assessed that neither the Afghan government nor the Taliban will be able to gain a strategic advantage in the Afghan war in the coming war year, a top American spymaster told lawmakers here on Tuesday.

“We assess neither the Afghan government nor the Taliban will be able to gain a strategic advantage in the Afghan war in the coming war year, even if coalitions support remains at current levels,” Danial Coats, Director of National Intelligence told members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence during a Congressional hearing on worldwide treat assessment of the intelligence community.

“However, current efforts to achieve an agreement with the Taliban and decisions on a possible withdrawal of U.S. troops could play a key role in shaping the direction of the country in the coming years,” Coats said.

“Militant groups supported by Pakistan will continue to take advantage of their safe haven in Pakistan to plan and conduct attacks in neighboring countries and possibly beyond, and we remain concerned about Pakistan’s continued development and control of nuclear weapons,” Coats told lawmakers.

In South Asia, the focus of the region will be centered on the potential turmoil surrounding Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential election, ongoing negotiations with the Taliban, and the Taliban’s large-scale recent attacks, he said.