US doesn’t rule out new Taliban talks after Trump announcement

WASHINGTON (AFP) – After President Donald Trump announcement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not rule out reopening talks with the Taliban if they make a significant commitment. It is pertinent to mention here that Trump cancelled a secret meeting with their leaders at his Camp David retreat. Mike Pompeo said Trump had not decided whether he would still withdraw US troops — but warned the Taliban of renewed military pressure if they keep up attacks. “I hope it’s the case the Taliban will change their behavior and recommit to things we’ve talking about. In the end this will be resolved through a series of conversations,” Pompeo told ABC television program “This Week.” "We need a significant commitment,” Pompeo said of the Taliban in a separate interview with CNN when asked if the United States could restart negotiations. “If the Taliban don’t behave, if they don’t deliver on the commitments they made to us for weeks and in some cases months, the president of the United States is not going to reduce the pressure,” he said. “We’re not going to reduce our support for the Afghan security forces that have fought so hard,” he said.

I have cancelled peace talks with Taliban over Kabul attack: Trump

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said he cancelled peace talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban leaders after the insurgent group said it was behind an attack in Kabul that killed an American soldier and 11 other people. Trump said he had planned a secret meeting with the Taliban’s “major leaders” on Sunday at a presidential compound in Camp David, Maryland. Trump said he also planned to meet with Afghanistan’s president. But Trump said he immediately called the talks off when the insurgents said they were behind the attack.

....an attack in Kabul that killed one of our great great soldiers, and 11 other people. I immediately cancelled the meeting and called off peace negotiations. What kind of people would kill so many in order to seemingly strengthen their bargaining position? They didn’t, they....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 7, 2019

Afghan government’s response

Afghanistan praised the “sincere efforts of its allies” on Sunday after US President Donald Trump said he had called off negotiations with the Taliban, apparently ending a year-long diplomatic push to exit America’s longest war. “The Afghan government, in relation to the peace, appreciates the sincere efforts of its allies and is committed to working together with the United States and other allies to bring lasting peace,” said a statement from President Ashraf Ghani’s office. The US-backed government in Kabul had eyed the deal with deep unease and long complained of being sidelined from the talks. “We have always insisted that real peace can only be achieved if the Taliban stop killing Afghans and accept a ceasefire, and face-to-face talks with the Afghan government,” the statement from Ghani’s office said. A presidential election is scheduled for September 28, and Kabul “insists” the polls should be held to establish “a strong, lawful and legitimate government so that it can take forward the peace process with wisdom”.

Taliban Response

The Taliban said the US “will be harmed more than anyone” but left the door open for future negotiations. “We still… believe that the American side will come back to this position… Our fight for the past 18 years should have proven to the Americans that we will not be satisfied until we witness the complete end of the occupation,” the group said in a statement released on Twitter by spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. The statement said the insurgents had “finalised” a deal with the US that had been expected to allow Washington to begin withdrawing troops in exchange for security promises from the Taliban.