In his Eid al-Adha message, Taliban leader Mullah Akhundzada has talked up the “incredible strides” being made toward a peace deal in Afghanistan, emphasizing the goal of ending 18 years of US military occupation.
At the same time, Akhundzada warned that the US was creating doubts about their intentions, noting that US military officials and political officials are often saying starkly different things about the process.
US administration officials have broadly presented a deal as achievable to end the war, with a full military withdrawal. US military commanders, however, have downplayed that, saying nothing is agreed to yet, and suggesting that the US might need to stay in Afghanistan for America’s regional military goals.
This is likely a response to the Ghani government claiming Taliban attacks raise the question about their willingness to make peace, with Akhundzada pointing out that there are reasons to question each side.
The Taliban are true patriots.
Kudos to Talibans for defeating the invaders
“Bilateral trust is the foundation of a successful negotiations process therefore it is imperative that such negative actions are ceased,” Akhundzada said…..
Tough luck with trust when you are dealing with the outlaw empire. Just ask Iran presently, and if you will, go back in history with treaties made with the Native Americans. The outlaw empire can never be trusted. Period.
Another empire falls after invading Afghanistan, the graveyard of empires.
the US might need to stay in Afghanistan for America’s regional military goals.
“Regional leaders launched construction work on the Afghan section of an $8 billion natural gas pipeline that will link the energy-rich Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.
[…]
The project is expected to transport 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas a year along an 1,800 kilometer (1,125 miles) route from Galkynysh, the world’s second-biggest gas field, to Fazilka near the border with Pakistan in northern India.” (Feb 2018)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkmenistan-afghanistan-gas-pipeline/leaders-launch-start-of-afghan-section-of-tapi-gas-pipeline-idUSKCN1G70PU