KABUL: Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has rubbished the CBS Newsinterpretation of his words. The network provoked uproar claiming that themilitant group wants Trump to win the election and withdraw troops fromAfghanistan.
The “clarification” from the Taliban spokesman came hours after a reportthat the militant group threw its weight behind Trump set Twitter alight,with the president’s detractors seizing upon the unusual endorsement totear into the Trump administration.
“US news outlet @CBSNews has interpreted & published my remarksincorrectly. Nothing of the sort has been communicated as publicized bythem,” Mujahid tweeted.
In its report on Saturday, CBS News claimed that Mujahid told them in a“phone interview” that he hopes Trump would prevail over his Democraticrival, Joe Biden, in November, and stick to the withdrawal plan, agreed aspart of the deal with the Taliban earlier this year.
“We hope he will win the election and wind up U.S. military presence inAfghanistan,” CBS News cited Mujahid as saying.
In another quote, CBS News attributed to Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman wascited praising Trump’s “America first” motto. “It is the slogan of Trumpfrom the start that they are not cops for the world and don’t want a singleflag and anthem for the globe, but their priority is America,” Mujahidallegedly said.
Apart from Mujahid, CBS News also cited another unnamed “senior Talibanmember” praising the US leader.
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It’s unclear what exactly in the CBS News “bombshell” prompted Majahid toaccuse the channel of twisting his words, since he has not elaboratedfurther.
While the alleged Taliban’s endorsement has seen Trump’s critics declaringan open season on the president, his own campaign was quick to reject theapparent accolade.
“The Taliban should know that the president will always protect Americaninterests by any means necessary,” Trump’s campaign spokesman Tim Murtaughsaid.
Under a deal with the militant group, the US agreed to a completewithdrawal of combat troops by spring 2021, pulling out forces in stages asthe Afghan government works toward a long-term ceasefire with the Taliban.Trump has always rallied behind a full withdrawal of forces, saying asrecently as Wednesday that all US soldiers in Afghanistan could be home byChristmas, although this timeline appears to be at odds with that of the USmilitary brass.
Courtesy: (RT)
