The Pulse | Safety | South Asia
Sher Mohammed Abbas Stanikzai, who led the Taliban delegation to Moscow, insisted that the Taliban have been abiding by the deal.
After a spherical of talks in Moscow, the Taliban mentioned Friday they anticipate the USA to satisfy its pledge to withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by Might.
Sher Mohammed Abbas Stanikzai, who led the Taliban delegation that met with senior Russian diplomats throughout two days of talks, insisted that the motion has honored its finish of the deal signed final yr on Qatar, the place the Taliban preserve a political workplace.
White Home and U.S. State Division officers have mentioned that Biden’s administration plans to take a brand new take a look at the peace settlement signed final February with Donald Trump’s White Home.
The Pentagon mentioned on Thursday that the Taliban’s refusal to satisfy commitments to cut back violence in Afghanistan is elevating questions on whether or not all U.S. troops will have the ability to go away by Might as required underneath the peace deal.
In remarks carried by Russian information businesses, Stanikzai insisted that the Taliban have been abiding by the deal — regardless of relentless assaults and continued excessive ranges of Taliban violence in opposition to Afghan forces.
“Ever since we signed the settlement with the American facet, we haven’t been concerned in any aggressive actions,” Stanikzai mentioned. “We hope that the U.S. will proceed to honor the settlement reached in Doha, it’s in its pursuits.”
The peace settlement known as for the U.S. to cut back troop ranges to 2,500, after which to take away all forces by Might. Trump ordered U.S. troops ranges in Afghanistan lower to 2,500 simply days earlier than he left workplace, presenting Biden with tough selections about retain leverage in opposition to the Taliban in help of peace talks.
Stanikzai warned that if the U.S. reneges on the deal, the Taliban will proceed their battle in opposition to the federal government in Kabul. The insurgents are actually at their strongest because the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban regime for harboring al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden and the Taliban management or maintain sway over practically half of Afghanistan
“We hope that the U.S. will go away,” Stanikzai mentioned. “But when it doesn’t, we’d don’t have any different alternative however to defend ourselves and proceed our wrestle.”
He strongly rejected allegations that Russia was secretly providing bounties to the Taliban for killing American troopers as “an absolute lie.”
U.S. officers have mentioned they had been analyzing intelligence in regards to the bounties provided by Russia. Moscow has rejected the declare.
Stanikzai mentioned that the Taliban and Russia “share a typical understanding of assorted points associated to the peace course of in Afghanistan,” voicing hope that Moscow will assist the settlement. Specifically, he added the Taliban anticipate Russia to help the lifting of the U.N. sanctions on the Taliban leaders.
Stanikzai additionally voiced hope that ongoing, stop-and-start peace talks between the Taliban and the Kabul authorities that started final yr will produce outcomes quickly.
The peace talks, that are happening in Qatar, resumed earlier this month however have been marred by the newest spike in violence, with each side blaming one another.
Moscow, which fought a 10-year conflict in Afghanistan that ended with Soviet troops’ withdrawal in 1989, has made a diplomatic comeback as an influence dealer in Afghanistan, mediating between feuding factions because it jockeys with Washington for affect within the nation. In 2019, it hosted talks between numerous Afghan factions.
By Vladimir Isachenkov for the Related Press in Moscow, Russia.
