KABUL: The Taliban have warned there’ll be “consequences” if the US and its allies extended their presence in Afghanistan beyond Aug 31, saying that US had already violated its previous May Day deadline to tug out troops.
If the US and its allies continued to remain beyond the agreed second deadline, it might be considered ‘the extended occupation of foreign forces’ and there would be consequences. it might then depend upon the Taliban leadership how they might react, spokesman Suhail Shaheen told the Geo news program Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Sath on Monday night.
About chaotic scenes at airport and panic elsewhere in Kabul, the Taliban spokesman held ex-president Ashraf Ghani and his administration liable for it. He said the Kabul administration shouldn’t have abandoned security posts and offices while Ghani had no rationale to escape the country when everyone knew that the Taliban forces rather than entering the town had asked for peaceful transfer of power to stop bloodshed.
Asked if the ISIS posed a true threat to attack Kabul airport and the way the Taliban could guarantee security, the Taliban spokesman said: “We are cautious about ISIS potential to attack the airport, because the Afghan forces abandoned their posts and ISIS prisoners were out. Our intelligence office is active.” However, he said, the previous Kabul administration should be asked why that they had abandoned jails and security posts that resulted in loot, plundering and a chaotic situation. “We have restored calm. Every passing day situation is improving,” he said.
About jailbreak or release of ISIS terrorists, he said the safety forces should have handed over the posts and offices rather than abandoning them. He asserted that ISIS was a “foreign phenomenon, because it doesn’t have roots in Afghanistan.” Those foreign elements had gone into hiding, he said, suggesting them to go away Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
“We have a transparent policy that we’ll not let anyone use Afghan soil against Pakistan or the other country. the approaching era is of development and prosperity.”
Regarding media reports that Pakistan had provided an inventory of favorite Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists to Haibatullah Akhunzada, Suhail Shaheen said he was unaware of any such list being provided to the Afghan Taliban leadership.
But an intelligence document for the United Nations said militants were going door-to-door hunting former officialdom and people who worked with the US and Nato forces.
Two Taliban sources, meanwhile, told AFP the group wouldn’t announce the formation of its government or cabinet until the last US soldier had left Afghanistan.
The Taliban spokesman earlier told Sky News that staying beyond the agreed deadline would be “extending occupation”. He said: “If the US or UK were to hunt overtime to continue evacuations, the solution is not any … there would be consequences.”
President Joe Biden had announced he wanted to finish the US military presence and airlifts by August 31, but with the ecu Union and Britain saying it might be impossible to urge everyone out by then, he’s struggling to increase the deadline.
In the capital, the Taliban have enforced some sense of calm during a city marred by crime and plunder after the previous administration personnel abandoned the safety posts and fled, with their armed men patrolling the streets and manning checkpoints.
Visually, they need also been looking to stamp their authority ensuring the tri-coloured ensign is replaced with their white banner.
The Taliban spokesman told Geo News that the ensign should be the one with Islamic inscription representing the Muslim population of the country though it might be decided when the time would come. A committee would even be formed to draft a constitution, decide about voting rights and prepare a framework that might ensure provision of rights to all or any segments of society, he said, adding that step by step all aspects starting from women rights to media freedom would be included within the framework.
Outside Kabul, there are flickers of resistance against the Taliban. Some ex-government troops have gathered within the Panjshir Valley, long referred to as an anti-Taliban bastion.
The Taliban said their fighters had surrounded resistance forces holed up within the valley, but were looking to barter instead of take the fight to them. Taliban fighters “are stationed near Panjshir”, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted, adding the group was trying to resolve the difficulty peacefully. lecture Geo News, Suhail Shaheen said: “Taliban are during a position to win Panjshir during a day but it’s our policy to settle all disputes during a peaceful manner. Yet if they like war, then its responsibility lies on them.”
The views followed scattered reports of clashes overnight, with pro-Taliban social media accounts claiming gunmen were massing, and former vice chairman Amrullah Saleh saying resistance forces were holding strong.
One of the leaders of the movement in Panjshir, named the National Resistance Front (NRF), is that the son of famed anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud. NRF spokesman Ali Maisam Nazary told AFP on the weekend that they were prepared for a “long-term conflict” but they were also seeking to barter with the Taliban for an ‘inclusive government’.
With government offices still mostly closed, many Afghans are worried about being paid though the Taliban on Monday appointed Haji Mohammad Idrees as financial institution governor to stay the wheels of finance moving.
Y does the US leave a trail of destruction ?
US enters a nation, when it seeks decisive results, and in an emergency or an urgency !
So the 1st thing it needs to do, is to build, breed and maintain, a loyal force, of local military, politicians and bureaucrats
For that, these 3 targets have to ADOPT the ideology, of the US.
Thence, comes in the money to co-opt these 3 targets – by salaries,aid and infra projects – wherein the projects are given to cronies of these 3 targets, to pay off the 3 musketeers ! This is THE GENESIS OF CORRUPTION !
These 3 targets then spread the US ideology, to the masses and some bite – BUT MANY DO NOT – as there is NOT enough money to go around, and that some people, JUST DO NOT WANT ANY IDEOLOGICAL CHANGE – It is the comfort, with the OLD.
Then as time passes the majority are cut off the quasi American elite – and the seeds of permanent war are sown – and that makes the incumbent regime a US puppet.
In a few years,some local or global power supports the masses – and you have TOTAL WAR !
The war is fought by and among locals, with US strat and tech, and some US lives.
The Country is annihilated, and the regime exits and CHAOS resides.
It is the same movie – BUT THAT IS THE WAY THE DIRECTOR WANTED IT ! THE DIRECTOR =US !
The target nation is doomed and will always be a US puppet ,and the regime which exited, is a PERMANENT LONG TERM ASSET of the US,and if all goes well,THE TARGET NATION WILL BE PARTITIONED !
So the US Goals are always MET,albeit at the cost of a few US lives,The Financial Cost is not much !
In Iraq – the OIl offset the cost !
In Afghanistan – it was the 9/11 CAT insurance and the Drugs ! And now,unless the US aids Taliban,the drugs will resume.
Today in Viet – the Viet slit eyes love the Yanki as it is the Yanki alone which can save the Viets from PRC.
And the TRUTH is that the US does NOT CARE ABOUT COLLATERAL DAMAGE.That India’s Chabahar and Infra in Afghanistan are blown to smithreens – is of no concern to the US !
But then Y should the US care ? dindooohindoo