WASHINGTON – The Biden\u00a0administration\u00a0said it will review a landmark US deal with the Taliban, focusing on whether the insurgent group has reduced attacks in Afghanistan, in keeping with its side of the agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Washington struck a deal with the Taliban in Qatar last year, to begin withdrawing its troops in return for security guarantees from the militants and a commitment to kick start peace talks with the Afghan government. But violence across Afghanistan has surged despite the two sides engaging in those talks since September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Joe Biden\u2019s newly appointed national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, spoke with his Afghan counterpart Hamdullah Mohib and \u201cmade clear the United States\u2019 intention to review\u201d the deal, said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne late Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifically, Washington wants to check that the Taliban is \u201cliving up to its commitments to cut ties with terrorist groups, to reduce violence in Afghanistan, and to engage in meaningful negotiations with the Afghan government and other stakeholders,\u201d her statement continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It added that Sullivan \u201cunderscored that the US will support the peace process with a robust and regional diplomatic effort, which will aim to help the two sides achieve a durable and just political settlement and permanent ceasefire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sullivan also discussed the United States\u2019 support for protecting recent progress made on women and minority groups\u2019 rights as part of the peace process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When contacted, the Taliban said they remained \u201ccommitted to the agreement and honour our commitments\u201d. \u201cWe expect the other side to remain committed to the agreement too,\u201d Mohammad Naeem, the group\u2019s spokesman in Qatar, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Washington\u2019s move was met with a sigh of relief from officials in Kabul after months of speculation over how the new administration would potentially recalibrate the Afghan policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Afghan officials welcome Biden plan <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mohib, the Afghan national security advisor, tweeted that during the call the two sides \u201cagreed to work toward a permanent ceasefire and a just and durable peace\u201d in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another top Afghan government official lambasted the Taliban\u2019s failure to live up to the February 2020 deal, saying the agreement had failed to achieve its stated goals. \u201cThe agreement so far, did not deliver a desired goal of ending Taliban\u2019s violence and bringing a ceasefire desired by the Afghans,\u201d Sediq Sediqqi, Deputy Interior Minister and former spokesman to President Ashraf Ghani said on Twitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Afghan officials welcome Biden plan <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Top Afghan officials on Saturday welcomed the Biden administration\u2019s decision to review a landmark US deal with the Taliban and focus on whether the insurgents have reduced attacks in Afghanistan in keeping with the agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Washington struck a deal with the Taliban in Qatar last year, to begin withdrawing its troops in return for security guarantees from the militants and a commitment to kick start peace talks with the Afghan government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Biden administration officials are to re-evaluate the pact as violence across Afghanistan has surged despite the Taliban and Afghan government engaging in those talks since September in the Qatari capital of Doha. Afghanistan\u2019s acting minister of state for peace said the outcome of the review should be a truce to end attacks in the war-ravaged country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is expected the review will lead \u201cto the demand of the Afghan people, which is an immediate stop to violence and achieving permanent peace\u201d, Abdullah Khenjani said in a video statement Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calls for permanent ceasefire<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move to review the deal was met with a sigh of relief from top officials in Kabul after months of speculation over how the new Biden administration would potentially recalibrate Washington\u2019s Afghan policy. Mohib, the Afghan national security adviser, tweeted that during the call the two sides \u201cagreed to work toward a permanent ceasefire and a just and durable peace\u201d in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another top Afghan government official lambasted the Taliban\u2019s failure to live up to the February 2020 deal, saying the agreement had failed to achieve its stated goals. \u201cThe agreement so far did not deliver a desired goal of ending Taliban\u2019s violence and bringing a ceasefire desired by the Afghans,\u201d Sediq Sediqqi, Deputy Interior Minister and former spokesman to President Ashraf Ghani said on Twitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Taliban did not live up to its commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deadly attacks and high-profile assassinations have increased in recent months, particularly in Kabul where several journalists, activists, judges and politicians have been murdered in brazen daylight attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Taliban have denied responsibility for these killings, but Afghan and US officials have blamed the group for the murders. On Tuesday, Biden\u2019s nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, told his Senate confirmation hearing that \u201cwe want to end this so-called forever war.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WASHINGTON – The Biden\u00a0administration\u00a0said it will review a landmark US deal with the Taliban, focusing on whether the insurgent group has reduced attacks in Afghanistan, in keeping with its side of the agreement. Washington struck a deal with the Taliban in Qatar last year, to […]<\/p>\n
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