The Taliban’s chief negotiator says in newly released remarks that the United States is on the verge of defeat and will quit Afghanistan soon “either of their own accord, or they will be forced ou,” VOA reported.
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai made the assertions in an April 28 speech to an “internal gathering” in Doha, Qatar, just two days before he led his team of insurgent negotiators into fresh talks with US interlocutors. Pro-Taliban social media outlets Friday released video of Stanekzai’s speech, one day after the US special reconciliation envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, and his team wrapped up the week-long negotiations with Taliban representatives in the Qatari capital.
In the speech, Stanekzai praised what he called the bravery of the Afghan nation for defeating past British and Soviet invasions of their country and resisting the current foreign military presence, referring to the US-led coalition, which is training and advising pro-government forces in battles against the Taliban.
“God has helped us defeat three super powers in the last century. The third super power that we are currently confronted with is also on the verge of defeat, inshallah (God willing). You will soon hear they also will withdraw (from Afghanistan) either of their own accord or they will be forced out,” Stanekzai told the gathering.
On Saturday, former US Defense Chief Robert Gates said there is a “real risk” that if American troops withdraw from Afghanistan before the Afghan government is stable, the Taliban might retake control of the country.
Gates told CBS News that the Afghan insurgent group still wants to rule over the country. “The question is, can you negotiate an arrangement whereby the Taliban agrees to operate under the Afghan Constitution, becomes a part of the political process?” Gates, who served as the secretary of defense under President Barack Obama from 2006 to 2011, spoke after the US announced it was transferring $1.5 billion, including at$600m designated for the war in Afghanistan, to build a border wall.
US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad last week tweeted that the sides are making “steady but slow progress on aspects of the framework for ending the Afghan war.” He said, however, that the current pace of talks isn’t sufficient “when so much conflict rages and innocent people die.”
“We need more and faster progress. Our proposal for all sides to reduce violence also remains on the table,” he said.
The Taliban’s Stanekzai said, “We pray to God they (US) withdraw in a manner that results in peace and stability in Afghanistan, and an Islamic system or Sharia is established in Afghanistan, and there is no further bloodshed among Afghans.”
