*ISLAMABAD: *
The Afghan Taliban on Saturday cautioned the US-led NATO forces in thewar-torn country not to extend their “occupation” beyond May as theinsurgent group categorically denied it violated February 29, 2020 Dohaaccord.
In a detailed statement issued against the backdrop of reports that the USand NATO forces intend to prolong their stay in Afghanistanlink spike in violence, the Talibanlink a number of steps they took toimplement the Doha agreement.
The statement came just days before the meeting of NATO defence ministers,where the US would present its plan for the future of Afghanistanlink. NATO officials earlier indicated thatit was unlikely the foreign forces would leave Afghanistan by May 1,deadline set in the Doha agreement for the withdrawal of all internationalforces.
Similarly, the Biden administration is also reviewing the Taliban-US dealand has given mixed signals. The new US administration insists that the USwithdrawal is conditioned based and accused the Taliban of not living up tothe agreement. The Afghan government also made similar allegations andblamed the Taliban link the rising violencein the war-torn country.
Responding to the allegations, the Taliban’s Doha office in a statementsaid the Doha agreement signed after 18 months of intricate and hardnegotiations is the sole political roadmap out of the ongoing US-Afghanconflict that no one should treat lightly.
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“The Islamic Emirate (Afghan Taliban) on its part is seriously committed toits implementation, has taken effective steps in this regard, and alsowants the other side to stringently implement the accord,” the statementsaid.
The statement further said the American side attests that no foreigntrooper had been killed over the past 12 months in Afghanistanlink, showcasing firm commitment of theIslamic Emirate to the agreement. In a similar fashion and in line with thetext of the deal, no entity has taken any steps against the United Statesof America and its allies from the soil of Afghanistanlink is anyone allowed to do so, and asper the accord, intra-Afghan talks were launched and ceasefire made a topicof the agenda.
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