US soldiers in Nerkh district of Wardak province.This year has been the deadliest for US forces in Afghanistan since 2015 (THOMAS WATKINS)
<p>Kabul (AFP) – The Taliban claimed responsibility Monday for an attack on an American convoy that killed one US soldier and, according to the insurgents, wounded several more.</p><p>The killing is likely to have consequences for ongoing talks between the US and the Taliban. President Donald Trump in September declared negotiations "dead" after the Taliban killed a US soldier in a Kabul bombing.</p><p>Negotiations have since restarted in Doha, but were earlier this month put on a "pause" following yet another bombing, this time at the Bagram air base north of Kabul.</p><p>According to US Forces-Afghanistan, one American service member died in combat Monday following an attack. The Americans did not release any additional information.</p><p>In a WhatsApp message to AFP, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said insurgents "blew up an American vehicle in Char Dara district of Kunduz" overnight Sunday-Monday.</p><p>He said "several" other US troops and Afghan forces were also wounded. </p><p>Kunduz province is in northern Afghanistan and has been the site of repeated insurgent attacks and attempts to seize Kunduz city itself.</p><p></p><p>- Deadliest year -</p><p></p><p>Depending on how one qualifies a combat-related death, at least 20 American troops have been killed in action in Afghanistan this year following Monday’s announcement.</p><p>That makes 2019 the deadliest for US forces since combat operations officially finished at the end of 2014, and highlights the woeful security situation that persists across much of Afghanistan.</p><p>About 2,400 US troops have been killed in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion in October 2001.</p><p>Currently, the Pentagon has between 12-13,000 troops in Afghanistan. Trump has said he wants to cut that number to about 8,600 or lower as he seeks to show voters he is making good on a campaign pledge to end America’s longest war. </p><p>The deal between the US and the Taliban had been all but signed before Trump nixed it at the last moment, though a relative improvement in Kabul’s security situation and the release of two Western hostages in a prisoner swap paved the way for a resumption of talks on December 7.</p><p>Those talks were paused for a few days following the Bagram attack, but have since started again.</p><p>The initial version of the deal would have seen the Pentagon pull thousands of troops out of Afghanistan in return for Taliban guarantees they would tackle Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.</p><p>But some members of Trump’s own Republican party, including close confidant Senator Lindsey Graham, say the idea of the Taliban conducting counter-terrorism operations is risible.</p><p>Monday’s attack comes one day after officials announced preliminary results in Afghanistan’s presidential elections that put President Ashraf Ghani on track to secure a second term.</p><p>The Taliban have long viewed Ghani as an American stooge and have refused to negotiate with him.</p><p></p>

Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.