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(1/9) A photo thread from my visit to Achin district for @starsandstripes for a story on life after the Islamic State.
Story is here and photos follow: https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/with-us-troops-gone-from-two-bases-in-eastern-afghanistan-taliban-steps-up-attacks-1.639117
Story is here and photos follow: https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/with-us-troops-gone-from-two-bases-in-eastern-afghanistan-taliban-steps-up-attacks-1.639117
(2/9) Hekmatullah, 20, a militia fighter in Achin district in eastern Afghanistan drives to his post, the same place his father died fighting Islamic State. After IS left, the Taliban arrived and attack daily. “Now it's Taliban. Before it was Daesh. Our lives are the same."
(3/9) An American outpost built for anti-ISIS operations was a few miles away, but U.S. troops left Achin in May, locals said. Since then attacks by the Taliban have increased. “They are stronger, they are fighting more,” militia commander Dost Mohammad said.
(4/9) Afghan militia fighters said they lack ammunition in their battle against the Taliban. The mortar in the middle of the base does not work and is only for show. After the U.S. left, middlemen took advantage of the lack of oversight to skim funds, one militia commander said.
(5/9) An Afghan militia fighter stands next to two vehicles locals said were destroyed by U.S. airstrikes during the campaign against Islamic State. The cars are in a marketplace that is still abandoned after fierce bombardment.
(6/9) The former Combat Outpost Blackfish, which was turned over to the Afghan National Army two months ago, the ANA commander now in charge of the base said.
One building sits unused. Inside are items left behind by American troops as they left.
One building sits unused. Inside are items left behind by American troops as they left.
(7/9) Another building on the base sat unused: an American bathroom. An Afghan commander said everything in it needed electricity, which is in short supply. He asked about an electric hand-dryer on the wall. When told what it was, he laughed at the idea of not just, using a towel
(8/9) Locals and soldiers also shared hopeful signs now that Islamic State has almost entirely cleared from Nangarhar. Farmers have returned, and this mosque, which locals said was destroyed during fighting, is now being rebuilt.
(9/9) I want to close this photo thread by saying that the Pentagon wants to end Stars and Stripes, which is government subsidized but editorially independent. Debates on this are in the Senate. Please contact Congress so 150+ people don't lose their jobs. https://www.stripes.com/news/us/senate-passes-defense-bill-without-funding-for-stars-and-stripes-1.638750
