Afghan president to visit US for military assistance amid surging violence

Kabul, June 22 (EFE).- Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani will travel to the United States later this week and seek military assistance for the war-ravaged country during his meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden, an official said on Tuesday.

“The main issue will be the provision of equipment, training and other financial assistance for the Afghan forces,” presidential advisor Waheed Omer told reporters.

Omer said Ghani would leave for the US on Thursday for his first official visit to America since Biden took office in January.

The chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah, top Afghan security officials and other senior government officials will accompany the president.

Ghani’s visit comes as the US and other foreign troops have begun withdrawing from the country since May 1. The withdrawal will conclude by Sep.11.

The Taliban have captured more than 50 districts, mostly in northern Afghanistan, in the past month and a half.

It is the first time in the past two decades of war that the insurgents have expanded their control over such large swaths of territory.

The Taliban have come close to the gates of provincial capitals of at least six northern provinces, including Faryab, Sar-e-Pul, Balkh, Baghlan, Kunduz, and Takhar provinces. EFE

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