On Wednesday, President Joe Biden advised the US broadcaster ABC that it will be “tough” to withdraw the remaining 2,500 American troops from Afghanistan by May.
“I am in the process of making that decision now as to when they will leave,” Biden stated. “It could happen, but it is tough.”
The Taliban instantly responded, telling the AFP information company that there can be “consequences” if the US didn’t pull out its troops by the designated May 1 deadline.
“The Americans should end their occupation in accordance with the Doha deal and fully withdraw their forces from Afghanistan by May 1,” a Taliban spokesman advised AFP. “If they don’t do it, be it for any reason or pretexts, then they will be responsible for the consequences.”
Another spherical of talks
The interview aired in the future earlier than Russia, China, the US, Pakistan, a delegation of main Afghan leaders and opposition members, and Taliban negotiators have been anticipated to satisfy in Moscow in an try and refresh stalled peace talks.
Some US officers and worldwide specialists have warned that if US-led forces have been to go away the nation earlier than a peace deal is formally hashed out, Afghanistan might fall into a brand new civil warfare. Former US President Donald Trump reduce troop numbers to the two,500 within the nation now throughout his remaining days in workplace. That is the bottom determine because the US invaded in 2001 following the September 11 assaults.
Biden stated in the course of the ABC interview that the settlement that was signed below Trump was not “very solidly negotiated.”
“The failure to have an orderly transition from the Trump presidency to my presidency…has cost me time and consequences. That’s one of the issues we’re talking about now, in terms of Afghanistan,” stated Biden, who demanded a assessment of the earlier deal after taking workplace.
The deal below Trump decided a conditions-based withdrawal of US troops. The pull out occurred regardless of a leap in violence in Afghanistan, which has been principally blamed on the Taliban. The US stated the Taliban’s failure to fully reduce ties with al Qaeda result in a six-month delay in talks.
The Taliban has denied that al Qaeda has members in Afghanistan, and has denied duty for the uptick in violence within the nation.
The present deal additionally referred to as for US-supported Afghan president Ashraf Ghani to give up energy to an interim administration, half of which might be chosen by the Taliban. Ghani has refused to take action.
