Editors Note: In southern Afghanistan, the Taliban reportedly struck a police checkpoint near Tarin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province. The Intelligence Ledger has been unable to independently verify this, and thus it is not mentioned below.
29 members of Afghan security forces and nine civilians are dead after a wave of Taliban attacks on checkpoints across the country. This despite a deal with the United States to reduce violence and a large COVID-19 outbreak threatening the nation.
In the Takhar province in northeastern Afghanistan, the Taliban struck an Afghan army base resulting in the deaths of 16 soldiers, two policemen, and an unspecified number of injured. In the northern province of Balkh, the Taliban reportedly killed nine civilians after they resisted Taliban attempts to extort money from them. Finally, in the western Badghis province, the Taliban hit an army checkpoint, killing three soldiers and wounding 10.
The attacks are sure to throw a wrench in the already unstable peace talks. The Taliban, who have currently not claimed responsibility, and the Afghan government are in the process of exchanging POWs in fulfillment on the peace deal signed between the United States of America and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar at the end of February. The continuation of the peace talks between the government in Kabul and the Taliban are conditional upon the continued release of up to 1,000 government troops and 5,000 Taliban prisoners.
The current issue at the center of attention is a demand for a reduction of violence by the Taliban from the United States. Although the Taliban had refrained from attacking coalition troops since the agreement was signed, they have continued to attack Afghan security forces in remote provinces and districts.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Army, Department of Defense, or the United States Government.