{"id":60578,"date":"2018-08-08T18:51:19","date_gmt":"2018-08-08T18:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/08\/us-commander-no-need-for-major-change-in-afghan-war-plan-as-new-general-takes-over\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:53:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:53:57","slug":"us-commander-no-need-for-major-change-in-afghan-war-plan-as-new-general-takes-over","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/08\/08\/us-commander-no-need-for-major-change-in-afghan-war-plan-as-new-general-takes-over\/","title":{"rendered":"US commander: No need for major change in Afghan war plan as new general takes over"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The top U.S. commander in the Middle East<\/a> said he doesn\u2019t expect any major change in the Afghanistan war strategy this fall, as a new general takes over the campaign a year after the Trump administration unveiled a broad new plan to resolve the 17-year conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army Gen. Joseph Votel<\/a> told reporters that the campaign to use military, social and political pressure to force the Taliban to the peace table is still valid. Incoming Afghanistan commander Army Gen. Scott Miller will make his own assessment of the war\u2019s progress, Votel said, but while he may make tactical changes on the ground fight, \u201cI don\u2019t think that that will result in a relook at the strategy of the overall approach here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Votel also said the reconciliation plan doesn\u2019t extend to Islamic State fighters<\/a> in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, talks to Gen. Chiya, commander of Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria\u2019s Middle Euphrates River Valley, during a meeting in Dawr Az Zawr Province, April 22, 2018. (Staff Sgt. Timothy R. Koster\/Army)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“While we apply military pressure against the Taliban to bring them to the table of reconciliation, we harbor no illusion about reconciliation with ISIS-K,” said Votel, using the acronym for the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan. “Our mission there is to destroy that organization.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week several hundred fighters of the Islamic State affiliate surrendered to Afghan forces in the northern province of Jawzjan. Votel said the fighters were taken to government detention facilities and will be held accountable for any war crimes they committed. He said the U.S. military will be able to interrogate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\t