KABUL: US President Donald Trump is serious about getting out ofAfghanistan, the Taliban told AFP Friday, outlining the “Islamic system”comprising “all Afghans” that the group says it hopes to establish underany peace deal.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid spoke to AFP via WhatsApp a day afterthe US said talks with the militants are “on the right path”, fuellingspeculation of a breakthrough in the 17-year conflict.
The US president’s apparent eagerness to pull troops out has weighed on thenegotiations, which culminated with six straight days of meetings in Qatarlast week.
“An agreement was reached on a principle framework… which, if implemented,and if the Americans take honest steps and stick to it truthfully, then Godwilling we are hopeful that the Americans will end the occupation ofAfghanistan,” Mujahid said.
“It appears that Trump is serious,” the Taliban spokesman continued.
US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad also spoke this week of a “draftframework” for a deal, though he warned that major hurdles — including anyUS withdrawal — remain.
Experts have hailed the development as a milestone in the grinding 17-yearconflict.
But it has prompted concerns from Afghans and observers who feared foreigntroops could withdraw before a lasting peace is reached between theinsurgents and the government in Kabul.
The Taliban took over Afghanistan in 1996, imposing their brutalinterpretation of Shariah law on the country until they were toppled in theUS invasion of 2001.
They have since fought an insurgency demanding foreign troops leave and anIslamic state be re-established.
Mujahid said a foreign withdrawal was the first goal.
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“Secondly, we want the establishment of an Islamic system,” he continued, agoal they will seek through “negotiations with different political sides,even if they have so far been under the umbrella of the invaders”.
If the democratic government in Kabul will not stand in the way, he added,“then of course there will be no need for war and conflict”.
Mujahid said the insurgents are not seeking to monopolise power.
“Inshallah (God willing) all Afghans, including different political sides”can take part, he told AFP.
Such a system would be based on the principle of shura, or council, withIslamic experts making decisions and “representatives of people andscholars” contributing.
Mujahid said the group was “100 percent hopeful” of establishing such asystem.
He said the next round of talks with the US will again take place in Dohastarting February 25.
The US has said talks will continue, but not confirmed any date.
