Marvin G. Weinbaum
Director, Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies
With U.S. and allied troops in Afghanistan slated to leave by September or earlier, the Taliban may wait to unleash in full fury its military offensive against government security forces and civilian targets. But in what is probably a preview of its plans, the Taliban has of late sharply increased its attacks along multiple fronts. Targeted assassinations and bombings are on the rise, and insurgent forces are consolidating their grip on districts surrounding the country’s provincial capitals. An emboldened Taliban appears to be eyeing a military victory, but its campaign to dislodge the Kabul government along with its constitutional foundations is political and psychological as well.
By SAMY MAGDY | Associated Press | Published: May 3, 2021 CAIRO Libya s top diplomat Monday called for the departure of foreign forces and mercenaries from the North African country as it heads toward elections later this year. Najla al-Manqoush, foreign minister of Libya s interim government, urged Turkey to implement U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding the repatriation of more than 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya. Her remarks came at a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. He visited Tripoli along with Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and other top military and intelligence officials. We call on (Turkey) to take steps to implement all the provisions of . the Security Council resolutions and to cooperate together to expel all foreign forces and mercenaries from the Libyan territories, she said.
Libya’s top diplomat has called for the departure of foreign forces and mercenaries from the North African country as it heads toward elections later this year