The Pentagon is evaluating the possibility of airstrikes in Afghanistan to prevent al-Qaeda and ISKP from resurgence as the US troops and NATO left the war-torn country but US lawmakers and experts are skeptical about the effectiveness of the “over-the-horizon” strategy.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin while speaking to the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday said, “Over-the-horizon operations are difficult but absolutely possible.”
In his congressional testimony, Austin did not publicly disclose much about the Pentagon’s “over-the-horizon” plans, telling committee members he could divulge more details in a closed classified session.
Announcing the complete withdrawal of US troops in April, President Joe Biden had vowed that he would not allow a comeback of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan from where Osama bin Laden planned the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington.
Since then, the Pentagon has repeatedly asserted that it is capable of holding Al-Qaeda and ISKP militants in Afghanistan in check through airstrikes from the nearest US bases or aircraft carriers.
A number of US lawmakers and experts were dubious about the effectiveness of long-distance airstrikes on the landlocked Afghanistan which is thousands of kilometers away from the nearest US base.
In an article, Professor of maritime strategy at the Naval War College James Holmes said, “Kill Terrorists in Afghanistan From ‘Over The Horizon’? Good Luck.”
In the piece published on the national security website, Holmes said, “Over-the-horizon operations work well when the battlefield lies within easy reach of sea or air forces.”
Austin’s remarks came about two weeks after the Pentagon Chief was forced to apologize to the relatives of the civilians killed in an August 29 drone strike in Kabul.
The drone strike was supposed to kill suspected ISIS militants but it resulted in killing 10 civilians, including seven children to which Austin responded that it was a ‘horrible mistake’.
It was the latest in a never-ending line of US drone strikes that ended up in civilian casualties in Afghanistan, becoming one of the most controversial issues over the 20-year war and prompting harsh criticism from Afghans.
