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Afghanistan conflict: Taliban declares 'defeat' of Nato | Afghanistan conflict: Taliban declares 'defeat' of Nato |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Taliban fighters in Afghanistan have declared the "defeat" of the US and its allies, a day after the coalition officially ended its combat mission. | Taliban fighters in Afghanistan have declared the "defeat" of the US and its allies, a day after the coalition officially ended its combat mission. |
A Taliban statement said the US-led force had "rolled up its flag" without having achieved "anything substantial". | A Taliban statement said the US-led force had "rolled up its flag" without having achieved "anything substantial". |
Nato formally ended its 13-year mission on Sunday, but about 13,000 troops will stay to train the Afghan army. | Nato formally ended its 13-year mission on Sunday, but about 13,000 troops will stay to train the Afghan army. |
Meanwhile, officials said four Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack in Helmand province on Monday. | Meanwhile, officials said four Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack in Helmand province on Monday. |
Three other soldiers were injured during the attack on an army checkpoint in Sangin district. Eight insurgents were said to have been killed. | Three other soldiers were injured during the attack on an army checkpoint in Sangin district. Eight insurgents were said to have been killed. |
The US-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) marked the end of its mission by lowering its flag at a ceremony in Kabul on Sunday. | The US-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) marked the end of its mission by lowering its flag at a ceremony in Kabul on Sunday. |
Mission commander Gen John Campbell said the Nato force had "lifted the Afghan people out of the darkness of despair and given them hope for the future". | Mission commander Gen John Campbell said the Nato force had "lifted the Afghan people out of the darkness of despair and given them hope for the future". |
'Demoralised' | 'Demoralised' |
But in a statement on Monday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Nato ceremony was "a clear indication of their defeat and disappointment". | But in a statement on Monday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Nato ceremony was "a clear indication of their defeat and disappointment". |
He said the Taliban would establish "a pure Islamic system by expelling the remaining invading forces," adding that Western troops were "demoralised". | |
Nato's Afghan deployment began after the 9/11 attacks against the US. | Nato's Afghan deployment began after the 9/11 attacks against the US. |
At its peak, the US-led Isaf deployment involved more than 130,000 personnel from 50 countries. | At its peak, the US-led Isaf deployment involved more than 130,000 personnel from 50 countries. |
But from 1 January, the force will consist of about 13,000 mostly-American troops and will shift to a training and support mission for the Afghan army. | |
The US will also have an additional force of a few thousand troops whose focus will be counter-terrorism operations. | |
While the US and its allies say the Afghan security forces have been able to prevent a Taliban offensive, violence has increased in recent months. | While the US and its allies say the Afghan security forces have been able to prevent a Taliban offensive, violence has increased in recent months. |
This year has been the bloodiest in Afghanistan since 2001, with at least 4,600 members of the Afghan security forces having been killed. | This year has been the bloodiest in Afghanistan since 2001, with at least 4,600 members of the Afghan security forces having been killed. |
Nearly 3,500 foreign troops have been killed since the beginning of the Nato mission in 2001, including about 2,200 American troops. | Nearly 3,500 foreign troops have been killed since the beginning of the Nato mission in 2001, including about 2,200 American troops. |
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