Peter Symonds: U.S. Pushes Military Build-Up in Afghanistan as Armed Resistance Escalates

U.S. pushes military build-up in Afghanistan as armed resistance escalates
by Peter Symonds
WSWS

Under strong pressure from Washington, a number of countries have been building up troop numbers to bolster the US-led occupation of Afghanistan. While nominally to provide security for parliamentary elections due to take place on September 18, the military build-up is taking place amid a sharp escalation of armed resistance to the US presence that has led to a rising toll of casualties.

A US soldier was killed and four others injured when a roadside bomb struck their armoured vehicle in Khayr Kot district of Paktika province on Friday. The previous weekend another four American troops died in Zabul province when a large remote-controlled bomb exploded under a wooden bridge as their convoy was crossing. More than 65 US soldiers have been killed so far this year, most in combat—by far the worst toll since the US-led intervention began in October 2001.

US troops are conducting extensive operations aimed at hunting down insurgents and intimidating the local population prior to the poll. After four years of attacks and aerial bombardment, searches and arbitrary arrests, much of the Pashtun majority in the south and east of the country is deeply hostile to the occupation and the US puppet regime headed by President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.

The US military last week completed a major offensive in eastern Kunar province near the Pakistani border and announced that more than 40 “enemy” had been killed. The sweep was clearly a reprisal for the killing of three US special forces troops in an ambush in the same area in June. Another 16 US military personnel sent to rescue the troops died when their helicopter was shot down.

According to Associated Press, the US and Afghan officials claim to have killed more than 750 insurgents over the last six months. Nearly 200 civilians and about 100 Afghan security forces have also died. Many of the so-called enemy deaths may well have been civilian casualties as US officials routinely dismiss statements by villagers who have been the victims of US attacks.

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