Will the United States play a stand-alone war game after the Taliban war?

A brand-new war game in Afghanistan (Said Salim Shahzad)

In recent days, Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters have ambushed, raided and resisted the United States in most parts of eastern and southern Afghanistan, and the United States and its allies have suffered unexpected losses and casualties.

Since the fierce ground and air fighting in eastern Afghanistan on the 2nd of this month, the US military has encountered the most tenacious resistance since it entered Afghanistan at the end of last year. In fact, in less than two months, the United States helped the Northern Alliance drive out the Taliban, and almost watched the Northern Alliance occupy a number of important towns without resistance.

There is a simple reason. The Taliban and Al-Qaida are gathering strength to launch a counterattack in the future. Now, this day has come.

After retreating from Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad, some senior Taliban leaders fled to the border tribal areas of Pakistan, while others hid in remote areas of Afghanistan. The middle and lower classes of the Taliban can easily blend in with the locals-they came from there in the first place.

Some local officials who supported the Taliban when they came to power in 1996 returned to the parties that existed before the Taliban came to power, such as the Islamic organization, the Afghan Islamic League and the Islamic Party. They were successfully accepted and protected.

These Taliban members keep close contact with each other and wait for the weather to get warmer at the end of March. They plan to launch a large-scale guerrilla war in Afghanistan.

In view of this situation, with the support of Afghans loyal to the interim government chairman Karzai, the US military launched a large-scale attack on Taliban and al-Qaeda strongholds in rugged areas near Gardez in Paktia province.

Their operation, code-named "Python", is aimed at mullah mansour and his troops: they often carry out raids on American strongholds in this area. However, unlike before, Americans met with desperate resistance this time.

In the past, the location of Taliban soldiers was very clear, so American planes could easily attack them. Today, this clear boundary no longer exists.

In addition to the conflict near Gardez, American-led troops were also attacked in areas controlled by pro-Karzai forces.

Taliban sources said that the Taliban had assembled small groups of troops all over the country. In view of the mountainous terrain in Afghanistan, even with the help of local people, it is almost impossible to determine the location of a small army of 10- 15 people. In some cases, past helicopters or military convoys are easy targets for these small forces.

According to relevant sources, the war has started in Paktia province and khost, and American military facilities have been attacked by small groups of Taliban and Al Qaeda hiding nearby.

By March 5, the United States said that seven soldiers had died and more than 40 soldiers were injured. However, the number of casualties may be higher than this. The day before yesterday, an American helicopter was shot down in Zalmat-the first American plane to be shot down in five months. Subsequently, another American helicopter was shot down between Sotakon Road and Matasena. Two other helicopters at Khost airport were destroyed. According to information from the Taliban, about 160 American, Afghan and allied soldiers were killed. Hundreds of people are thought to have died in the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Fierce fighting broke out in Logar province near Kabul, and different forces from the Taliban, Hizbul Islam and other factions joined forces to control many areas. According to sources, American planes had to go to Lugar to rescue the pro-Karzai government. However, the big question now is where to throw the bomb; Because it is impossible to know who is the enemy and who is the friend.

Similarly, the Taliban have occupied some positions in the southern provinces. However, the Kandahar government is unwilling to take action against them. Because once fighting breaks out in southern Afghanistan, small groups of opposition forces will appear everywhere in Kandahar, causing chaos.

Taliban sources said that the next battle may take place in the eastern part of Valdas province. There, they will seize control of Kanghar from the pro-Karzai government.