Taliban: We’re committed to deal with US
The leader of the Taliban, Haibatullah Akhunzada, on Wednesday said that his group was committed to a landmark deal with the US, despite being accused of carrying out hundreds of attacks in Afghanistan since it was signed in February.
Akhunzada urged Washington “not to waste” the opportunity offered by the deal to end the US’s longest war in a message released ahead of next week’s Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
“The Islamic Emirate is committed to the agreement signed with America and urges the other side to honour its own commitments and not allow this critical opportunity to go waste,” Akhunzada said in a statement, using the name the Taliban called Afghanistan when they were in power.
“I urge American officials to not afford anyone the opportunity to obstruct, delay and ultimately derail this internationally recognised bilateral agreement,” the reclusive leader added.
US to withdraw forces
After months of negotiations, the Taliban and the US signed a deal on February 29, which stipulates that Washington will withdraw all its troops by next year in return for security guarantees.
The Doha agreement envisaged talks between Afghan leadership and the Taliban to reach a lasting peace, but that has been delayed as a prisoner swap – a key part of the agreement – has not been fully implemented.
The so-called intra-Afghan talks were also delayed by a leadership feud between President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah. Last week, they signed a power-sharing deal that will move the peace process forward.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has made it a priority to end the war in Afghanistan and, in a bid to facilitate the withdrawal of their forces, US officials have been pushing for intra-Afghan peace talks.
Under the accord, the Taliban pledged to stop attacking US interests, but has continued to target Afghan forces in the provinces.
The Taliban have also stepped up attacks against Afghan forces after President Ghani ordered troops to adopt offensive posture against armed groups following two deadly attacks last week that killed dozens.
Last week, at least 24 people were killed in an attack on a maternity hospital in Kabul and a suicide blast on a funeral on the same day left 32 dead in Nangarhar province.
The Taliban denied involvement in the two attacks, although Ghani blamed the Taliban and the ISIL (ISIS) armed group for the bloodshed.
