US military shipping equipment out of Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): US troops have started exiting Afghanistan and shipping military equipment out of the country, a leading American TV channel reports.

In a bid to protect the withdrawing American and NATO forces, the Department of Defence has okayed the deployment of hundreds of maritime, air and land forces to the region.

The immediate focus, CNN reported, was on continuing to shift out of the country superfluous tools and supplies that were not being destroyed in place or handed over to Afghan forces.

Unnamed officials told the channel the departure of personnel would not get under way for a few weeks. The US will retain its ability to defend the force and lend support to Afghan units.

The Pentagon has given US Central Command the go-ahead to keep an aircraft carrier in the region for possible airstrikes in defence of departing troops.

To provide force protection for troops leaving Afghanistan, CNN said, several hundred ground troops — no more than 1,000 — would also be sent to the country.

“Additionally, bomber aircraft are expected to be placed on standby in the region as a deterrent to Taliban violence and be ready to be called in for airstrikes if needed. The military also plans to maintain combat air patrols over Afghanistan throughout the withdrawal to maintain security.”

PAN Monitor/mud

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