KABUL – The Taliban on Saturday warned NATO against seeking a“continuation of war “, as the alliance weighs a planned withdrawal fromAfghanistan.
Defence ministers from the Washington-backed allies are to meet next weekto discuss whether NATO’s 10,000-strong mission — mostly carrying outsupport roles — should stay or go, as Taliban violence rages.
“Our message to the upcoming NATO ministerial meeting is that thecontinuation of occupation and war is neither in your interest nor in theinterest of your and our people,” the Taliban said in a statement.
“Anyone seeking extension of wars and occupation will be held liable for itjust like the previous two decades.”
Former US president Donald Trump struck a deal with the Taliban last yearunder which the United States agreed foreign troops would leave Afghanistanby May 2021 in return for conditions including cutting ties with Al-Qaedaand opening peace talks with the Kabul government.
Joe Biden’s administration has said it would review the deal, with thePentagon accusing the Afghan insurgent group of not meeting theircommitment to reduce violence.
The Taliban in turn has accused the US of breaching the agreement andinsisted it will continue its “fight and jihad” if foreign troops do notleave by May. In his final days in office Trump unilaterally reduced USforces in Afghanistan to just 2,500 — the lowest since the start of thewar in 2001.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly insisted that NATOmembers must decide “together” on the future of their mission and he hopesBiden will coordinate more closely with allies.
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“If we decide to leave we risk to jeopardise the peace process, we risk tolose the gains we have made in the fight against international terrorismover the last years,” the NATO chief said earlier this month.
“If we decide to stay we risk to continue to be in a difficult militaryoperation in Afghanistan and we risk increased violence also against NATOtroops.” The Taliban on Saturday said it was “seriously committed” to theUS deal, claiming it had “significantly decreased the level of operations”.
Insurgents have launched a string of offensives threatening at least twostrategic provincial capitals in southern Afghanistan in recent months.
They have also been blamed by the US and the Afghan government for a waveof assassinations on journalists, politicians, judges and activists. Thewarring sides launched peace talks in September year, but progress has beenslow and overshadowed by the violence.
Germany troops to stay on in Afghanistan
Germany wants to extend its military presence in Afghanistan, where it hasthe second largest contingent after the United States, Foreign MinisterHeiko Maas said Saturday.
