For the first time since the early days of the war in Afghanistan, Air Forces Central Command is not providing a regular update on the number of airstrikes in that theater.
Publish dateTuesday 5 May 2020 - 13:30
Story Code : 209331
AFCENT, in a statement, said it is not posting the monthly airpower summaries because of a “multiplicity of diplomatic relational concerns, including how the report could adversely impact ongoing discussions with the Taliban regarding Afghanistan peace talks.”
As per the Air Force Magazine, since at least 2012, the command has posted monthly updates online with the tally of the number of weapons released, as well as the number of mobility and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sorties. At one time, the command posted more detailed summaries daily.
Since Operation Inherent Resolve began in 2014, AFCENT added monthly sortie and strike totals for coalition aircraft in Iraq and Syria.
The last summary, which was posted in February—the same month as U.S. and Taliban officials announced a deal to end the war—showed a high operational tempo in the country. U.S. aircraft in Afghanistan that month released 360 weapons, the second highest February total in at least 11 years.
The decision to stop releasing airstrike data, first reported by CNN, is the latest in a series of steps by U.S. officials to limit the information coming out of the war. The quarterly Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction report stated that the U.S.-led Resolute Support mission is no longer reporting the number of Taliban-initiated attacks. Hoffman said the information is not classified, and it could be released in the future.
As per the Air Force Magazine, since at least 2012, the command has posted monthly updates online with the tally of the number of weapons released, as well as the number of mobility and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sorties. At one time, the command posted more detailed summaries daily.
Since Operation Inherent Resolve began in 2014, AFCENT added monthly sortie and strike totals for coalition aircraft in Iraq and Syria.
The last summary, which was posted in February—the same month as U.S. and Taliban officials announced a deal to end the war—showed a high operational tempo in the country. U.S. aircraft in Afghanistan that month released 360 weapons, the second highest February total in at least 11 years.
The decision to stop releasing airstrike data, first reported by CNN, is the latest in a series of steps by U.S. officials to limit the information coming out of the war. The quarterly Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction report stated that the U.S.-led Resolute Support mission is no longer reporting the number of Taliban-initiated attacks. Hoffman said the information is not classified, and it could be released in the future.
Source : Afghan Voce Agency(AVA)
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