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General John W Nicholson

Nicholson takes command of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan

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KABUL: US Army General John W “Mick” Nicholson has taken command of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, inheriting America’s longest war and a vicious insurgency.

Nicholson, 58, took over on Wednesday from US Army General John F Campbell, who oversaw the end of the international combat mission in 2014 and an escalation in the Taliban’s war against Kabul.

In a ceremony at the headquarters of the US-Nato Resolute Support mission in Kabul, Nicholson thanked Nato representatives for standing by the US after the September 11, 2001 attacks on “the homeland.”

To the Taliban, he said: “I know you. You have brought only hardship and suffering to the Afghan people.”

Nicholson served in Afghanistan three times between 2006 and 2012. He takes command of around 13,000 international troops, including 9,800 Americans.

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.