Afghan National Army troops in Mazar-i-Sharif last week, where the Taliban massacred at least 150 Afghan soldiers Anil Usyan / ReutersThe United States will supply up to 200 new military aircraft to Afghanistan over the coming four years in an attempt to regain initiative from the Taliban and force the resurgent Islamists back to the negotiating table. The package will include fighter jets, attack helicopters and transport aircraft that Washington and Kabul believe can give Afghan forces a decisive military edge over the Taliban and hasten a final American withdrawal from the longest war in its history. Three Afghan government officials said the deal had been agreed during a visit to Kabul last week by a high-level US delegation led by President Trump’s national security adviser, Lieutenant-General HR McMaster. The move comes as the White House considers launching a surge of troops into Afghanistan to…

Source: The Times April 27, 2017 11:03 UTC