Rocket Strikes Diplomatic Area in Kabul

Reports indicate that a rocket struck a diplomatic area in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on Monday evening. According to Reuters, an Afghan police official stated that the rocket landed in an area outside the presidential palace, near a government building and several foreign embassies. Another police official told AFP that the rocket hit a football field in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood. So far, there have been no reports of possible casualties from this attack. This incident occurred as U.S. President Donald Trump is set to announce new strategies regarding Afghanistan tonight. In this context, the Taliban had previously warned the U.S. not to send more troops to Afghanistan. Fox News, citing U.S. government officials, reports that Trump is expected to agree to increase U.S. forces in the country. It is said that more than four fresh troops will be sent to Afghanistan to strengthen the position of government forces. An American official had previously told Reuters that James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, had informed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during his visit to Afghanistan earlier this year that the U.S. has a lasting commitment to Afghanistan. The U.S. has been present in Afghanistan for over 15 years since the overthrow of the Taliban regime following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, but there are no signs of an end to the war in the country. Reuters reports that U.S. intelligence and security agencies estimated in May of this year that even with an increase in U.S. forces in Afghanistan, the situation is likely to deteriorate next year. Meanwhile, General John Nicholson, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, had previously stated that several thousand more foreign troops are needed to push back the Taliban, most of whom should focus on training Afghans.