Pentagon Report, Joint Chiefs Chairman Note Lack of Progress in Afghanistan


Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford said the Taliban is "not losing" in Afghanistan during a Nov. 17 session at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada. DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique Pineiro.

The military effort in Afghanistan remains stagnant about one year after the administration released its new South Asia Strategy despite an increased operational tempo in the country, according to a new report.

The Defense Department Inspector General, in a quarterly report to Congress, stated that as the new strategy passed the one year mark, the US military increased its presence and conducted more offensive strikes, while increasing training for Afghan forces.

However, “there was little clear progress” toward reconciliation and the available measures of security “showed little change.”

For example, 65 percent of the Afghan population is living in areas of government control or influence, an amount that has not changed in the past year. Additionally, there have been more reports of civilian casualties, and a spike in Afghan security forces casualties.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford told an audience at the Halifax International Security Forum the Taliban is “not losing” in Afghanistan and that reconciliation is the only way forward.

However, he acknowledged that not much has changed since the US last year said the situation in Afghanistan was a “stalemate.”

Watch Dunford’s full comments from this year’s forum below:

CJCS Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford speaks at the 2018 Halifax International Security Forum on Nov. 17. Video by the Halifax International Security Forum.