WASHINGTON/KABUL: Security has been beefed up in Afghan capital as US soldiers still present under President Joe Biden’s orders, beyond the May 1 withdrawal deadline agreed in the previous US administration.
The Taliban reacted to Biden’s delay move with threatened consequences besides boycotting the key conference in Istanbul that had been planned to facilitate the Afghan peace process.
The Taliban are at their strongest since being ousted in 2001. They are believed to hold sway or outright control over nearly half of Afghanistan. Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban negotiation team, while speaking with International media said ‘We are telling the departing Americans that you fought a meaningless war and paid a cost for that and we also offered huge sacrifices for our liberation.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also took to his official handle where he expressed concerns over the current situation. Delay of the passing deadline meant this violation in principle has opened the way for the Taliban to take every counter-action it deems appropriate against the occupying forces, he said Saturday.
#Clarification
As withdrawal of foreign forces from #Afghanistan by agreed upon May 1st deadline has passed, this violation in principle has opened the way for IEA Mujahidin to take every counteraction it deems appropriate against the occupying forces.— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) May 1, 2021
Adding that, fighters are waiting on the decision of Taliban leadership. This violation in principle has opened the way for Mujahidin to take every counteraction it deems appropriate against the occupying forces.
The Mujahidin of IEA will now await what decision the leadership of Islamic Emirate takes in light of the sovereignty, values and higher interests of the country, and will then take action accordingly, Allah willing.
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) May 1, 2021
On the other hand, the US has also intimidated that if foreign forces were attacked while carrying out the withdrawal they would defend themselves with full force.
US envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, also met with the Taliban’s chief of political office in Doha. A delegation of Taliban political leaders had also been in Islamabad this week.
With the start of this month, the final phase of America’s longest war in Afghanistan has kicked off with the withdrawal of the remaining 2,500-3,500 US troops and about 7,000 NATO soldiers. The forces in the Central Asian region, which have spent more than $2 trillion and killed 47,245 civilians, started flying out their equipment on C-17 cargo planes.
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According to the US defense department, at least 2,442 US troops have been killed and 20,666 wounded since 2001. It is also believed that over 3,800 US private security contractors have been killed in the war. The conflict also has killed 1,144 personnel from NATO countries.
As the truce entered its final stages which holds paramount importance, there is a growing fear that chaos will follow the departure of the last US troops.
