Stronger Than Ever, Taliban Vows to Fight On in Afghanistan

Trump declares talks dead, so Taliban says it will focus on fighting

A day after President Trump declared the entire Afghan peace process dead, new reports are suggesting this was a folly, as Taliban officials say they are fully prepared to go back to a war footing.

Taliban spokesmen made clear this was something of an obvious move, after Trump scrapped an apparently near-finalized peace deal, and said they always considered the war to have two avenues for them, diplomacy or jihad.

Since the Taliban has been gaining ground nationwide, they are expressing comfort with the US trying to force a military solution, and the latest reports suggest the Taliban is stronger than it’s been at any time since before the 2001 war began.

Reports have shown the Taliban’s strength mounting for years now, as they take more territory and gain more confidence in the ongoing conflict. The war, however, seems to be one of choice for President Trump, who decided to back out of the peace deal over a car bombing last week.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.