As Western forces prepare its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban seems to be trying to assert its growing power by issuing a warning to all foreign troops that will remain in the war-torn country after September 11.
WESTERN forces are slowly pulling out of Afghanistan, ending their longest war; however, the Taliban has a stark warning to all foreign troops that will remain in the war-torn country after the September 11 target of withdrawal.
In an interview with the BBC, the rebel group’s spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said that they are expecting the United States (US) and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to honor the Doha Agreement by assuring that both military personnel and contractors leave.
"If they leave behind their forces against the Doha Agreement then in that case it will be the decision of our leadership how we proceed," Shaheen said.
"We would react, and the final decision is with our leadership.”
The statement comes after reports reveal that at least 1,000 foreign troops, mostly Americans, will stay as auxiliary security forces for embassies and the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
But Shaheen said that such troops are irrelevant and not needed given that seizing the capital with force is “not Taliban policy” and that foreign civilians such as diplomats and non-government organization (NGO) workers are not a target.
"We are against the foreign military forces, not diplomats, NGOs and workers and NGOs functioning and embassies functioning – that is something our people need. We will not pose any threat to them," he remarked.
Intensified offensive
The US and NATO entered in an agreement with the Taliban to withdraw from the country in exchange that the rebel group will fight the terrorist group al-Qaeda, never allow it, along with other extremists, to operate in Afghanistan, and engage in peace talks with the Afghan government.
However, the reality in the ground is different.
Violence continues to rise in different parts of the country as the group intensifies their military offensive against Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s government, with over a quarter of the nation’s 370 districts already seized.
But Shaheen argued that such brutal offensives were a lie and that the regions voluntarily surrendered or joined the Taliban.
Justified
Meanwhile, critics questioned President Joe Biden’s decision to leave Afghanistan and concerns whether the Taliban will live up to its commitment for a ceasefire and eventually agree to peace settlement are still unclear.
But Biden said that the US withdrawal is justified and that the government has ensured the South Asian nation will never again become a haven for terrorists that have ill intentions against the West, adding that American support will continue.
"Our troops may be leaving, but support for Afghanistan is not ending," Biden said.
Moreover, Ghani also guaranteed that the Afghan National Army is more than capable and prepared to defend its country against all threat. However, not everyone is as optimistic with what is to come.
Low morale within the local military is not helping either to face the growing threat of Taliban, prompting fears among observers that as Afghan forces take charge of national security on its own, the government may fall in six months to two years after western forces leave. (JT)
Tags: #Afghanistan, #UnitedStates, #foreignoccupation, #Taliban