View Full Version : Foreign troops to quit Afghanistan in 18 months under draft deal
Swordsmyth
01-26-2019, 02:35 PM
Taliban officials said U.S. negotiators on Saturday agreed a draft peace deal setting out the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan within 18 months, potentially ending the United States' longest war.The details of the draft were given to Reuters by Taliban sources at the end of six days of talks with U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar aimed at ending the war, more than 17 years since American-led forces invaded Afghanistan.
It stipulates that troops would leave within 18 months of the agreement being signed.
While no joint statement was issued, Khalilzad tweeted later that the talks had made "significant progress" and would resume shortly, adding that he planned to travel to Afghanistan to meet government officials.
"Meetings here (in Qatar) were more productive than they have been in the past. We have made significant progress on vital issues," he wrote, adding that numerous issues still needed work.
"Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and everything must include an intra-Afghan dialogue and comprehensive ceasefire," he said in the tweets.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson declined further comment.
A Taliban statement issued later also noted progress on troop withdrawal and other issues but said more negotiations and internal consultations were required.
"The policy of the Islamic Emirate during talks was very clear -- until the issue of withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan is agreed upon, progress in other issues is impossible," said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, using another name the group calls itself.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/round-u-taliban-talks-ends-progress-draft-peace-123829256.html
enhanced_deficit
01-26-2019, 02:44 PM
This if confirmed as non-fakenews would be huge for cutting foreign spending and reducing national debt among other things.
This would also help mitigate some neg perception about maga from headline like below and debunk conspiracy theories painting maga as fake front group for foreign-firster neocon lobbies.
Iraq invasion architect Elliott Abrams quietly slips into Trump administration (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?530753-Iraq-invasion-architect-Elliott-Abrams-quietly-slips-into-Trump-administration&)
Since he frequently contradicts himself his statements can't be trusted at all, you have to watch his actions to even guess about his positions or plans.
BTW, how much trust you have that this plan is more firm than immediate Syria/Iraq exit plans or the "no end in sight to gov shut down" narratives published in media earlier?
Warlord
01-26-2019, 02:45 PM
We have to give credit when its due i think!
Zippyjuan
01-26-2019, 04:50 PM
We have to give credit when its due i think!
We will have to wait and see. He already said he had eliminated the nuclear threat from North Korea and that we would be out of Syria by January 20, 2019.
acptulsa
01-26-2019, 04:53 PM
We have to give credit when its due i think!
We will have to wait and see. He already said he had eliminated the nuclear threat from North Korea and that we would be out of Syria by January 20, 2019.
Now, Zippy. Did he say credit was already due?
Swordsmyth
01-28-2019, 06:30 PM
U.S. President Donald Trump’s top reconciliation envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, and the Taliban have confirmed the existence of the draft peace pact.
The Taliban has committed to preventing Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups like its ally al-Qaeda and rival ISIS, Khalilzad told (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/world/asia/taliban-peace-deal-afghanistan.html) the New York Times (NYT) on Monday.
An unnamed Taliban source who attended the latest round of talks in Qatar on Saturday, the day the two sides reportedly “agreed” on the draft peace accord, told (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-asia-47028177) BBC the negotiators agreed to form two panels to come up with a detailed plan on how to implement the agreements.
The committees would “identify routes for the withdrawal, and how much time is needed. We suggested six months, but are flexible,” the Taliban source told BBC.
In its latest assessment (https://media.defense.gov/2018/Dec/20/2002075158/-1/-1/1/1225-REPORT-DECEMBER-2018.PDF) of the war in Afghanistan, the Pentagon noted (https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/01/04/pentagon-taliban-distancing-sunni-al-qaeda-getting-cozy-iran/):
The United States has a single vital national interest in Afghanistan: to prevent it from becoming a safe-haven from which terrorist groups can plan and execute attacks against the U.S. homeland, U.S. citizens, and our interests and allies abroad. Our ultimate goal in Afghanistan is a negotiated political settlement between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
The Trump administration has described the “political reconciliation” between Kabul and the Taliban as a “victory (https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/03/13/mattis-defines-victory-in-afghanistan-as-reconciliation-with-taliban-amid-concerns-of-terror-havens-increase/)” for the United States, ultimately admitting that a military win is unattainable (https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/01/01/2018-the-year-the-u-s-admitted-there-will-be-no-military-victory-in-afghanistan/).
Reuters learned from its Taliban source that more discussions on the draft are expected to take place February, again in the Qatari (https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/01/07/taliban-wants-u-s-peace-talks-qatar-not-saudi-arabia/) capital of Doha, home to the group’s political office.
Citing the Taliban sources, Reuters confirms:
[T]he hard-line Islamic group gave assurances that Afghanistan will not be allowed to be used by al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants to attack the United States and its allies — a key early demand of Washington.
They said the deal included a ceasefire provision but they had yet to confirm a timeline and would only open talks with Afghan representatives once a truce was implemented.
So far, the Taliban has repeatedly refused to negotiate directly with the Afghan government, dismissing it as a “puppet” of the U.S. The Taliban considers itself the only legitimate government of Afghanistan.
Referring to the draft peace pact, Reuters adds:
The Taliban sources said other clauses in the draft include an agreement over the exchange and release of prisoners, the removal of an international travel ban on several Taliban leaders by Washington and the prospect of an interim Afghan government after the ceasefire is struck.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who has officially registered to run for president during the July 20 elections, has repeatedly objected to the formation of an interim government. While briefing Ghani on the negotiations, Khalilzad reportedly denied (http://www.1tvnews.af/en/news/afghanistan/37158-interim-government-not-discussed-with-taliban-khalilzad-tells-ghani) that the U.S. discussed the prospect of an interim government.
“The Taliban sources also confirmed provisions in the draft that have broader implications for Afghanistan’s ties with its neighbors, particularly Pakistan, India and China,” Reuters further notes, without elaborating further.
Via Twitter on Saturday, the day the two sides reportedly “agreed” on the draft accord, Khalilzad acknowledged that the talks in Qatar over the weekend made “significant progress.”
He noted that negotiations would resume shortly.
“Meetings here were more productive than they have been in the past. We have made significant progress on vital issues,” he wrote, conceding that the U.S. and the Taliban still need to hash out various issues.
“Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and everything must include an intra-Afghan dialogue and comprehensive ceasefire,” he tweeted.
1/3 After six days in Doha, I'm headed to #Afghanistan (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) for consultations. Meetings here were more productive than they have been in the past. We made significant progress on vital issues.
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) January 26, 2019 (https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace/status/1089194660218785792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
On Sunday, Khalilzad briefed President Ghani in Kabul “on the progress” in the peace negotiations, the envoy tweeted on Monday.
Briefed President @ashrafghani (https://twitter.com/ashrafghani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) last night on the progress we've made. Peace is America's highest priority in #Afghanistan (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), a goal we believe all Afghans share. pic.twitter.com/vwrxfnhIWd (https://t.co/vwrxfnhIWd)
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) January 28, 2019 (https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace/status/1089846735969636352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Khalilzad also confirmed the existence of the draft accord in an interview with NYT on Monday, telling the newspaper in Kabul:
We have a draft of the framework that has to be fleshed out before it becomes an agreement. The Taliban have committed, to our satisfaction, to do what is necessary that would prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a platform for international terrorist groups or individuals. We felt enough confidence that we said we need to get this fleshed out, and details need to be worked out.
According to the Pentagon, the Afghanistan-Pakistan region is home to the highest concentration (20) of terrorist groups in the world.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the top American peace envoy’s boss, noted on Twitter that he had received “encouraging news” from Khalilzad about the discussions.
“The U.S. is serious about pursuing peace, preventing #Afghanistan from continuing to be a space for international terrorism & bringing forces home,” Pompeo tweeted, without providing a timetable for the potential withdrawal of American forces.
Encouraging news from @US4AfghanPeace (https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). He reports significant progress in talks with the Taliban on #Afghanistan (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) reconciliation.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 26, 2019 (https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1089294262678835201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
The Taliban also acknowledged progress on its long-sought goal of foreign troop withdrawal and other issues in its statement issued Saturday, noting that more negotiations and internal consultations are needed.
More at: https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2019/01/28/u-s-taliban-agree-draft-peace-deal-could-see-troops-withdraw-18-months/
oyarde
01-28-2019, 08:13 PM
That gets us out just under 20 years and it would never have happened with a Dem as president .
enhanced_deficit
01-28-2019, 08:17 PM
That gets us out just under 20 years and it would never have happened with a Dem as president .
Also just in time before 2020 election season starts to distract MAGA leadership.
If out of Syria and Iraq also in 18 months, this could be even bigger win for MAGA/GOP-Adelson and a big defeat for Bolton, ZOA wings etc. After recent "political defeat" narrative being pushed in media over Wall/gov shut end, MAGA can use some psoitive news right now even if actual exits will be in 18 months.
That said, assuming above is not fakenews, is it wise to annoouce troops exits timelines in advance?
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTCWyxeh3mWCLZqJXXCpMtSbUyD_9zir hEHhogJWLT0NWudyzkBMghttp://littlevillagemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/trump-nuke-tweet.jpg
Trump, who warned against telegraphing military action in Syria, telegraphs military action in Syria — again
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/03/29/trump-says-u-s-will-leave-syria-very-soon-despite-his-promises-not-to-telegraph-military-moves/
(https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjNirKK-pHgAhVGGt8KHV_BBlQQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fjaketapper%2Fstatu s%2F1075779768702955520&psig=AOvVaw3F1p7_KBQa_p-IJTz8Lfaa&ust=1548815648235576)
oyarde
01-28-2019, 08:25 PM
Also just in time before 2020 election season starts to distract MAGA leadership.
If out of Syria and Iraq also in 18 months also, this could be even bigger win for MAGA/GOP-Adelson and a bif defeat for Bolton, ZOA wings etc.
If he gets out of Syria , Afghanistan by 2020 that presidency alone is a success by modern standards . That will be two of three places we have pulled out of since Ike left office .
Anti Globalist
01-28-2019, 08:49 PM
Good.
Swordsmyth
01-31-2019, 09:57 PM
Russia will host a day-long summit on Feb. 5 between a Taliban delegation and Afghan politicians, including former President Hamid Karzai, although no representatives from President Ashraf Ghani's administration will attend, Reuters reported Jan. 31.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-russia-host-summit-between-taliban-delegation-afghan-politicians
With all due respect, 18 months is not enough. If we can't execute a withdrawal in ~3 months tops, we're probably not planning on leaving at all.
Swordsmyth
02-03-2019, 04:03 PM
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has offered to negotiate ways to minimize the costs of keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan amid concern that U.S. forces will pull out of the region prematurely, a new report says.
Although Ghani did not include specific proposals for how to cut costs of U.S. troops and contractors in Afghanistan, his letter to President Trump dated Monday says the objective is “maximum effectiveness to aid efficiency.” He also requested Trump visit Afghanistan soon to “discuss a mutually beneficial path forward toward lasting peace and increased security for both of our countries and peoples,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“While the Afghan government remains a steadfast and committed partner to the United States in the pursuit of our shared security and peace objectives, we are aware of the recent changes in the context of our relationships and a seeming shift in U.S. priorities and objectives in our country and the region,” Ghani wrote in the letter (https://www.wsj.com/articles/afghan-leader-tells-trump-kabul-is-willing-to-help-cut-u-s-troop-costs-11548969342?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=4).
More at: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/afghanistan-begs-us-troops-to-stay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0b7GKNrxZ4
Swordsmyth
02-05-2019, 07:04 PM
Representatives from the Taliban and prominent Afghan politicians, including former President Hamid Karzai, are meeting in Moscow to discuss attempts to end the ongoing 17-year war in Afghanistan, The New York Times reported Feb. 4.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-taliban-representatives-afghan-politicians-meet-moscow-talks
Swordsmyth
02-06-2019, 05:47 PM
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has offered to negotiate ways to minimize the costs of keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan amid concern that U.S. forces will pull out of the region prematurely, a new report says.
Although Ghani did not include specific proposals for how to cut costs of U.S. troops and contractors in Afghanistan, his letter to President Trump dated Monday says the objective is “maximum effectiveness to aid efficiency.” He also requested Trump visit Afghanistan soon to “discuss a mutually beneficial path forward toward lasting peace and increased security for both of our countries and peoples,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“While the Afghan government remains a steadfast and committed partner to the United States in the pursuit of our shared security and peace objectives, we are aware of the recent changes in the context of our relationships and a seeming shift in U.S. priorities and objectives in our country and the region,” Ghani wrote in the letter (https://www.wsj.com/articles/afghan-leader-tells-trump-kabul-is-willing-to-help-cut-u-s-troop-costs-11548969342?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=4).
More at: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/afghanistan-begs-us-troops-to-stay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0b7GKNrxZ4
Afghanistan's president Ashraf Ghani said on Tuesday that no peace deal between the Taliban and the United States could be finalised without involving his government as "the decision-maker".Ghani's government has so far been shut out of the evolving peace talks between Taliban negotiators and U.S. envoys to end more than 17 years of war, with the hardline Islamist movement branding his government as a U.S. puppet.
His made his remarks in a television interview as Afghan opposition politicians, including his predecessor Hamid Karzai, meet Taliban representatives in Moscow.
"At the end of any peace deal, the decision-maker will be the government of Afghanistan," Ghani told TOLO News, the country's largest private television station.
"No power in the country can dissolve the government," he said, adding that he was ready to "stand and defend our country".
"Rest assured that no-one can push us aside," he said.
With both sides hailing progress in talks in Qatar last month, U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is due to meet Taliban representatives there again on Feb. 25.
Ghani's comments are some of the most extensive since he met Khalilzad in Kabul last week following the last round of talks.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-president-says-oppose-peace-deal-without-government-182552094.html
TheCount
02-06-2019, 06:36 PM
18 months seems like an odd timeline, given the "now" withdrawal from Syria. What could be the reason for that date, I wonder...
Stratovarious
02-06-2019, 06:52 PM
A lot can happen in a year and a half, plenty of reasons to stay, but I like this
a lot better than ''time to start.........bringing troops home'' .
Zippyjuan
02-06-2019, 07:34 PM
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taliban-us-afghanistan-withdrawal-forces-donald-trump-peace-state-of-the-union/
Taliban claims U.S. agreed to major Afghan withdrawal in 2 months
President Trump has made clear his desire to extricate the U.S. military from the "endless" war in Afghanistan. He touted "constructive talks" the U.S. has been conducting with the Taliban during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night. Mr. Trump said, "we do not know whether we will achieve an agreement -- but we do know that after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace."
The pace of any U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan has been a major point of discussion -- and concern -- given the strength the Taliban still wields and the group's well-established history of hosting terror groups.
On Wednesday, the TaIiban claimed the Trump administration had agreed to pull half of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan out of the country in just a couple months. The U.S. government denies that any timeline for a withdrawal has been agreed yet with the Taliban.
The direct U.S. talks with the Taliban are a key aspect of a multi-pronged dialogue the Islamic extremist group has engaged in with virtually every party that has a vested interest -- with the notable and problematic exception of the Afghan government.
Afghan peace talks without the Afghans
Negotiations are ongoing this week in Russia, where Taliban officials are sitting down with representatives from Afghanistan -- but from not from the government. The Taliban considers the government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani a puppet regime controlled by the U.S., and thus refuses to speak with it.
One report says half out by April. Says start leaving this month. No indication of that. State Department says no timeline.
https://abcnews.go.com/beta-story-container/International/taliban-official-us-promised-withdraw-troops-afghanistan-april/story?id=60884193
"The Americans have agreed to us that half of American forces will start leaving from beginning of February till end of April," Hanafi told reporters Wednesday, saying the promise had been made during breakthrough talks with U.S. negotiators in Qatar's capital Doha last month, which he had taken part in.
A State Department spokesperson though disputed that, telling ABC News, “We have not agreed to any timeline for a possible drawdown of troops and are not going to get into any other specific details of diplomatic conversations."
Hanafi's comments come a week after Taliban and U.S. negotiators at the Doha talks announced that they had in principle agreed to a framework for a deal which could potentially lead to full peace talks, raising hopes that an end to Afghanistan's 18-year war could be closer. Under that deal, the Taliban would pledge that Afghanistan would never become a base for international terrorist groups again, allowing the U.S. to make a full withdrawal of its troops. The U.S. has said that for a full withdrawal to take place, the insurgent group would also have to agree to a cease-fire and start direct negotiations with Afghanistan's government.
On the other hand, Trump said he wanted out of Syria in 30 days- that ended January 20th.
euphemia
02-06-2019, 08:07 PM
The news crawl just said the timeline is to have 7000 troops out of Afghanistan by the end of April. That’s about half, and a pretty good start, if you ask me.
gaazn
02-06-2019, 10:06 PM
Idiots on Fox News used to bash Ron Paul hard for talking withdrawal.
Occam's Banana
02-06-2019, 11:31 PM
Idiots on Fox News used to bash Ron Paul hard for talking withdrawal.
That's because they correctly believed that he actually meant it ...
Swordsmyth
02-08-2019, 10:12 PM
The United States is hoping Afghanistan can strike a peace agreement including the Taliban before elections scheduled for July, US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said on Friday."It will be better for Afghanistan if we could get a peace agreement before the election, which is scheduled in July," the negotiator said, adding that there remained "a lot of work" to do.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/us-envoy-taliban-talks-discuss-push-peace-164740320.html
Swordsmyth
02-10-2019, 10:20 PM
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday offered the Taliban the possibility of opening an office in Afghanistan but the proposal was swiftly spurned by the group that is determined to keep his government out of accelerating peace talks.Ghani has expressed alarm at the Taliban shutting his administration out of negotiations with the United States as well as recent Moscow talks with Afghan opposition politicians, and repeated earlier offers to give the group a secure official address to aid any future diplomacy between the two sides.
"If the Taliban want an office, I will give it to them in Kabul, Nangarhar or Kandahar by tomorrow," Ghani said while visiting the province of Nangarhar, a hotbed of insurgent violence on the border with Pakistan.
"We will bring a lasting and honorable peace to the country," he said.
Nangarhar is a stronghold of the Taliban, the hardline Islamist movement that now controls or contests districts across nearly half the country, more than 17 years since they were toppled from power.
Taliban officials in Moscow last week stressed the importance of a formal office among a string of demands that included the removal of Western sanctions and travel bans on Taliban members, prisoner releases and an end to "propaganda" against the group.
Taliban spokesman Sohail Shahin later told Reuters that the focus was international recognition of their existing site in Doha, Qatar.
On Sunday he said Ghani was trying to harm the peace efforts with his latest offer.
"Our demand about having an official political office is clear, we want that our office in Doha is recognized by the international community and the United Nations," Shahin said.
"By this, Ghani is trying to change the topic and harm the on-going peace efforts."
Taliban negotiators are due to meet U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad for another round of talks in Qatar on Feb. 25. The State Department said on Saturday that Khalilzad would spend the rest of the month traveling to Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan and Pakistan to work on Afghan peace process.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-president-offers-taliban-local-office-group-wants-135810659.html
Swordsmyth
02-17-2019, 03:06 AM
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is likely to meet Afghan Taliban representatives during his visit to Pakistan starting on Sunday, Pakistani government sources said, part of efforts to broker an end to Afghanistan's 17-year-old civil war.Pakistan has been playing an increasingly vital role in the Afghanistan peace talks, which have been gathering momentum in recent months amid a growing U.S. desire to pull out its troops.
Along with other Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia has been part of the peace negotiations and is seen to have some sway over the Afghan Taliban militants due to Riyadh's historical ties with the hardline Islamist group and the kingdom's religious clout as the birthplace of Islam.
Two senior Pakistani officials said the crown prince was likely to meet Afghan Taliban representatives in Islamabad, where the militants, fighting to restore strict Islamic rule in Afghanistan after their 2001 ouster, say they are due to meet U.S. representatives and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
"Though it is top secret so far, there are strong indications representatives of the Afghan Taliban will meet Prince Salman during their visit of Pakistan on February 18," one of the Pakistani officials in Islamabad said.
A senior Taliban leader in Qatar said no decision had been made on whether they would meet the crown prince.
"Actually meeting Prince Salman is not in the plan so far but we can discuss it when we are in Islamabad," said the Taliban representative.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-taliban-likely-meet-saudi-crown-prince-pakistan-072807536.html
Swordsmyth
02-22-2019, 08:42 PM
The United States has ended its anti-narcotics airstrike campaign in Afghanistan to curb the Taliban's ability to raise revenue by taxing opium production, Time reported Feb. 21.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-us-ends-airstrikes-against-taliban-opium-labs
Stratovarious
02-22-2019, 08:54 PM
The United States has ended its anti-narcotics airstrike campaign in Afghanistan to curb the Taliban's ability to raise revenue by taxing opium production, Time reported Feb. 21.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-us-ends-airstrikes-against-taliban-opium-labs
I'm pretty sure you've seen this clip of our troops protecting the biggest
heroin business in the world, but hey, we kill em' we partner with them
lots of fun. It's all in good sport.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUATfLDiwVA
Swordsmyth
02-22-2019, 09:02 PM
I'm pretty sure you've seen this clip of our troops protecting the biggest
heroin business in the world, but hey, we kill em' we partner with them
lots of fun. It's all in good sport.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUATfLDiwVA
Yup, I'm just hoping that this is part of the withdrawal.
Swordsmyth
03-02-2019, 06:32 PM
American and Taliban officials looking to end a 17-year war in Afghanistan began their most detailed and high-level discussions yet on foreign troop withdrawals and counter-terrorism on Tuesday, officials close to the peace negotiations said.
The talks, which kicked off in Doha on Monday with a meet-and-greet lunch, are seen as the most promising yet between the warring parties after the Taliban’s newly-appointed political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar joined for the first time, flying in from Pakistan.
The two sides are looking to hammer out a timeline and logistics for a potential troop withdrawal (https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2019/02/06/Taliban-Washington-at-odds-over-Afghanistan-troop-pullout.html), as well as guarantees that the Taliban will not host militant groups as the US winds down its presence, sources close to the talks said.
“The Taliban knows foreign forces are committed to withdrawal, but we have the responsibility to ensure that Afghanistan does not get used as a base to launch terror attacks on foreign nations,” one of the officials said.
Some 14,000 US troops are based in Afghanistan as part of a US-led NATO mission to train, assist and advise Afghan forces. Some US forces also carry out counter-terrorism operations.
US military officials have been brought in to join this week’s talks in Doha, a second official said, raising hopes for progress after the last round in January secured a broad framework agreement but few details on critical aspects of a ceasefire and withdrawal.
“We have all the right people in the room on both sides,” the second official said.
More at: https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2019/02/26/US-Taliban-talk-troop-withdrawal-counter-terrorism-at-peace-talks.html
Zippyjuan
03-02-2019, 06:42 PM
Afghanistan peace talks which do not involve the Afghans. What could possibly be a problem with that?
Swordsmyth
03-02-2019, 06:47 PM
Afghanistan peace talks which do not involve the Afghans. What could possibly be a problem with that?
The Taliban are not Afghans?
Swordsmyth
03-13-2019, 07:22 PM
U.S. and Taliban negotiators have made progress toward a draft agreement that includes a U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and a Taliban pledge to counter terrorism as both sides concluded their fifth round of talks in Doha, U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad announced via Twitter on March 12.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-taliban-us-negotiators-conclude-fifth-round-talks
Swordsmyth
03-14-2019, 06:07 PM
The fifth round of negotiations in Qatar taking place between the US and Taliban negotiators recently concluded, and it was the most fruitful round yet. They have reached an “agreement in draft” regarding certain key issues.
U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad announced the good news in a series of Twitter posts:
(1/4) Just finished a marathon round of talks with the Taliban in #Doha (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Doha?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). The conditions for #peace (https://twitter.com/hashtag/peace?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) have improved. It’s clear all sides want to end the war. Despite ups and downs, we kept things on track and made real strides.
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) March 12, 2019 (https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace/status/1105513778886643713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
(2/4) Peace requires agreement on four issues: counter-terrorism assurances, troop withdrawal, intra-Afghan dialogue, and a comprehensive ceasefire. In January talks, we “agreed in principle” on these four elements. We’re now “agreed in draft” on the first two.
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) March 12, 2019 (https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace/status/1105513780375625730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
(3/4) When the agreement in draft about a withdrawal timeline and effective counterterrorism measures is finalized, the Taliban and other #Afghans (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghans?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), including the government, will begin intra-Afghan negotiations on a political settlement and comprehensive ceasefire.
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) March 12, 2019 (https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace/status/1105513781705302016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
(4/4) My next step is discussions in Washington and consultations with other partners. We will meet again soon, and there is no final agreement until everything is agreed.
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) March 12, 2019 (https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace/status/1105513783357784064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
The progress is flying in the face of what warmongering neoconservatives, who formed the foreign policy consensus during the George W. Bush administration, have been saying about Trump’s engagement of the Taliban.
“If you tell the Taliban that we are absolutely leaving on date certain, cutting down, weakening ourselves, their incentives to try to cut a deal drop dramatically,” said disgraced former Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who led wars during the Bush and Obama administrations, on ABC’s “This Week” last year (https://www.foxnews.com/us/former-afghanistan-commander-warns-of-plans-to-cut-troops)
“The notion that we’re somehow going to have a negotiated deal with the Taliban, that we can take their word that they won’t allow al Qaeda to have safe havens again, is, in my view, irresponsible,” Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) said to Jake Tapper of CNN (https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/02/10/rep_liz_cheney_irresponsible_to_try_to_negotiate_w ith_the_taliban.html) last month
“While it is tempting to retreat to the comfort and security of our own shores, there is still a great deal of work to be done,” Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said about the possibility of withdrawal (https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2019/01/30/peace-with-the-taliban-trump-warned-of-afghan-pullout-risks/). “And we know that left untended, these conflicts will reverberate in our own cities.”
Even Trump’s own national security adviser John Bolton looks like a buffoon for his previous predictions regarding US engagement of the Taliban.
“The lesson for us is that we need to be there much longer than we were in the case of Iraq. We see chaos there, and I think if the administration continues to push for withdrawal from Afghanistan, we will see chaos there,” Bolton said during an appearance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9ifttaZFVA) on FOX News in 2014.
The whining of these GOP dinosaurs only deepens the chasm between the Republican Party of Bush and the new Republican Party of Trump. The policies of engagement – whether happening with the Taliban in Afghanistan or Kim Jong-un in North Korea – are yielding encouraging results, and the days of the US empire serving as the world’s policeman may be coming to an end as a result.
More at: https://bigleaguepolitics.com/trumps-foreign-policy-of-engagement-pays-off-with-taliban-peace-talk-breakthrough/
Warlord
03-14-2019, 07:46 PM
Peace! thanks SS.
shakey1
03-15-2019, 06:15 AM
Very hopeful indeed. :sun:
enhanced_deficit
03-15-2019, 11:08 AM
To be devil's advocate, if US taxpayesr funded troops left Iraq and Afghanistan , how else can Iran be surrounded from both sides?
It's fashionable lately among America-Frst purists to call for ending foreign interventions and for troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria etc to be brought home but can America continue current progress without militarily supporting our closest allies abroad?
https://twitter.com/cufi/status/1004143362285457408
Following article by respected neoconservative Dennis Prager is few years old but threat of extremist radicalization in mideast still exists and our allies are still vulnerable.
This news is from yesterday:
https://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/20/03/25/13/gaza110.png
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ2xiLTGgkGk083lRY1xyK0VBrmnipEw DpIDqNFV_PvtcAAY2sJYQ (https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjYw8L10IThAhWMtlkKHTM5DlUQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FChristiansUni tedforIsrael%2Fposts%2Fi-will-bless-those-who-bless-you-and-whoever-curses-you-i-will-curse-and-all-peo%2F10156391383394814%2F&psig=AOvVaw3Qk7x13VV8d7Ry-_tNnFqP&ust=1552755409952285)
The Immorality of Leaving Iraq and Afghanistan
By Dennis Prager
https://www.nationalreview.com/2014/01/immorality-leaving-iraq-and-afghanistan-dennis-prager/
Swordsmyth
03-16-2019, 09:31 PM
Afghanistan summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat on Saturday to account for remarks by Prime Minister Imran Khan speculating about a new government in Kabul following a possible peace settlement.The summons by the Afghan foreign affairs ministry marked the second time in just over three weeks that Kabul has demanded an explanation from Pakistan, illustrating the longstanding tensions between the two neighbours at a sensitive time.
Khan, at a rally in Bajaur, in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, predicted "mutual peace" in Afghanistan as an outcome of recurring talks between the United States and the Taliban to end the country's 17-year-old war.
"A good government will come in Afghanistan," Khan said. "I mean a government will come in which all will be represented. War will end and there will be peace."
The Afghan ministry summoned Pakistan's counsellor to clarify the remarks, spokesperson Sibghatullah Ahmadi tweeted.
"Afghanistan expressed its grave objection on Pakistan's government and deemed such remarks a flagrant interference in its internal affairs," he said.
In February, the ministry summoned Pakistani ambassador Zahid Nasrullah Khan over his remarks that Afghan peace talks could be affected if India resorted to violence against Pakistan.
More at: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kabul-summons-diplomat-over-remarks-170233810.html
Swordsmyth
03-19-2019, 06:22 PM
Afghan national security adviser Hamdullah Mohib is no longer welcome in Washington after he criticized Kabul's exclusion from peace talks between Washington and the Taliban, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale has informed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Reuters reported March 18.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-national-security-adviser-no-longer-welcome-washington-after-peace
Swordsmyth
03-26-2019, 11:25 PM
U.S. diplomats walk out amid growing tensions with Afghan government
By Carlo Muņoz - The Washington Times - Tuesday, March 26, 2019
U.S. diplomats walked out of a senior-level meeting with Afghan officials Tuesday to protest biting criticisms from the country’s national security chief over the Trump administration’s direct peace talks with the Taliban that have excluded Kabul.
The American officials had gathered at the presidential palace in Kabul as part of a trilateral meeting between U.S. representatives, several NATO ambassadors and top level members of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s government, according to local reports.
A number of members in the American delegation abruptly left Tuesday’s meeting once Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib arrived, Afghan news outlet Tolo News reported.
Mr. Mohib, who served as the Afghan ambassador to the U.S. before joining Mr. Ghani’s cabinet, on a trip to Washington earlier this month openly condemned U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad’s intensifying talks with senior Taliban leaders on a peace deal and U.S. troop withdrawal.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/26/us-diplomats-walk-out-amid-growing-tensions-afghan/
...
Swordsmyth
04-06-2019, 07:50 PM
The Afghan government summoned a Pakistan diplomat to explain Prime Minister Imran Khan's latest remarks on ongoing Afghan peace talks, as tensions flared between the neighboring countries once again.Afghanistan's ministry of foreign affairs summoned the diplomat to object about remarks that it deemed "explicit interference" in Afghan affairs, the ministry's spokesman, Sibghatullah Ahmadi, said on Twitter.
It marks the fourth time in about a month and a half that Kabul has demanded an explanation from Islamabad for comments related to peace talks aimed at ending 17 years of war in Afghanistan.
In late March, Afghanistan recalled its ambassador from Islamabad for Khan's suggestion that forming an interim Afghan government might smooth peace talks between U.S. and Taliban officials. The ambassador returned shortly after Pakistan clarified Khan's remarks as being reported out of context.
But on Friday, Khan addressed the matter again at a rally in Pakistan in which he explained his original comments as "brotherly advice," according to accounts published in Afghan media.
"Afghanistan considers recent statements of Imran Khan explicit interference in internal affairs of Afghanistan and deems PM's remarks a return to his previous stance," Ahmadi tweeted.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's mandate officially expires in May. The date for the next presidential election has been postponed twice and is now set for Sept. 28.
Ghani has been shut out from the peace talks and is under pressure from rivals to step aside and allow a caretaker government to take over, a suggestion he has rejected.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghanistan-summons-pakistan-diplomat-yet-153842325.html
TheTexan
04-06-2019, 09:18 PM
Taliban officials said U.S. negotiators on Saturday agreed a draft peace deal
Why does the Taliban even have "officials"??
I would have thought we bombed all of them long ago - I guess we still have some work to do.
Swordsmyth
04-22-2019, 06:27 PM
https://twitter.com/Global_Mil_Info/status/1120137394580348928
1120137394580348928
Swordsmyth
04-26-2019, 04:38 PM
“Orderly And Responsible Withdrawal”: U.S. Officially Admits It Lost War In Afghanistan
https://southfront.org/orderly-and-responsible-withdrawal-u-s-officially-admits-it-lost-war-in-afghanistan/
https://southfront.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/1-177.jpg
The US officially admitted that it had lost the 18-year long war in Afghanistan.
During the April 25 trilateral meeting of special representatives of President of Russia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and State Department of the USA on Afghanistan,
the sides officially called for “an orderly and responsible withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan as part of the overall peace process.”
The US de-facto called for withdrawal of its own troops and their NATO allies.
Furthermore, the US, China and Russia admitted the Taliban’s “commitment” to fight ISIS and “cut ties” with al-Qaeda and ”other international terrorist groups.” Therefore, Washington, Beijing and Moscow largely recognized that the Taliban as a legal political power, not a terrorist group.
It’s important to point out the part about fighting ISIS. Previously, US officials have repeatedly accused the Taliban of cooperating with ISIS and put them on one level.
Trilateral Consensus on Afghan Peace Process by Russia, China and the United States (source):
http://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/3626402?p_p_id=101_INSTANCE_cKNonkJE02Bw&_101_INSTANCE_cKNonkJE02Bw_languageId=en_GB
(Adopted at the meeting of special representatives of President of Russia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and State Department of the USA on Afghanistan, Moscow, April 25, 2019)
1. The three sides respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan as well as its right to choose its development path.
The three sides prioritize the interests of the Afghan people in promoting a peace process.
2. The three sides support an inclusive Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process and are ready to provide necessary assistance.
The three sides encourage the Afghan Taliban to participate in peace talks with a broad, representative Afghan delegation that includes the government as soon as possible.
Toward this end, and as agreed in Moscow in February 2019, we support a second round of intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha (Qatar).
3. The three sides support the Afghan government efforts to combat international terrorism and extremist organizations in Afghanistan.
They take note of the Afghan Taliban’s commitment to: fight ISIS and cut ties with Al-Qaeda, ETIM, and other international terrorist groups;
ensure the areas they control will not be used to threaten any other country; and call on them to prevent terrorist recruiting, training, and fundraising, and expel any known terrorists.
4. The three sides recognize the Afghan people’s strong desire for a comprehensive ceasefire. As a first step, we call on all parties to agree on immediate and concrete steps to reduce violence.
5. The three sides stress the importance of fighting illegal drug production and trafficking, and call on the Afghan government and the Taliban to take all the necessary steps to eliminate the drug threat in Afghanistan.
6. The three sides call for an orderly and responsible withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan as part of the overall peace process.
7. The three sides call for regional countries to support this trilateral consensus and are ready to build a more extensive regional and international consensus on Afghanistan.
8. The three sides agreed on a phased expansion of their consultations before the next trilateral meeting in Beijing. The date and composition of the meeting will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.
...
enhanced_deficit
04-26-2019, 05:42 PM
Foxnews: US may need to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely due to ISIS threat (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?533706-Foxnews-US-may-need-to-stay-in-Afghanistan-indefinitely-due-to-ISIS-threat&)
UN report: Afghan, US forces contributed to more civilian deaths in Afghanistan than Taliban, ISIS in first three months of 2019 (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?533855-Almost-every-US-metric-for-the-war-in-Afghanistan-is-now-classified-or-nonexistent&p=6787546&viewfull=1#post6787546)
Swordsmyth
04-26-2019, 05:46 PM
Foxnews: US may need to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely due to ISIS threat (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?533706-Foxnews-US-may-need-to-stay-in-Afghanistan-indefinitely-due-to-ISIS-threat&)
Faux is not in charge.
UN report: Afghan, US forces contributed to more civilian deaths in Afghanistan than Taliban, ISIS in first three months of 2019 (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?533855-Almost-every-US-metric-for-the-war-in-Afghanistan-is-now-classified-or-nonexistent&p=6787546&viewfull=1#post6787546)
Time to leave.
enhanced_deficit
04-26-2019, 05:50 PM
Faux is not in charge.
[/SIZE]
Time to leave.
To be devil's advocate, if Iran sanctions being placed did not work and Adelson/AIPAC or Ivanka convinced MAGA to start war with Iran to defend our closest allies in mideast and human rights freedom in Iran, how in the world that would be feasible without any military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq to surround Iran from both sides?
Swordsmyth
04-26-2019, 05:52 PM
To be devil's advocate, if Iran sanctions being placed did not work and Adelson/AIPAC ir Ivanka convinced MAGA to start war with Iran to defend our closest allies in mideast and human rights freedom in Iran, how in the world that would be feasible without any military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq to surround Iran from both sides?
Another good reason to leave.
Isn't it great that DJTvsg is getting us out?
enhanced_deficit
04-26-2019, 05:56 PM
Another good reason to leave.
Isn't it great that DJTvsg is getting us out?
That he is, since at least 2012 .. if not before that. And out of Iraq and Syria too.
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/08/22/15/4373253500000578-4811382-Donald_Trump_was_deeply_skeptical_of_the_war_in_Af ghanistan_in_t-a-2_1503411083910.jpg
https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aZYchGNmVVXxsIwMAdBhAreMCQ8=/26x0:595x298/fit-in/1200x630/cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9087225/Screen_Shot_2017_08_21_at_11.14.21_AM.png
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBw8SEhATExMQFRUSFh0VFRUSExIWGhYZFRgWFxUVFR cYKCggGBolHhUTITEhJikrLi4uFyAzODMsNygtMTcBCgoKDg0N FQ0OFisdFyU3MTcrLSstLS0rNy0sKzctKzctLCsxNzc3MDArNT crMzc4Mjc3Ky43LisrLS4wLjcrN//AABEIAKQBMwMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAbAAEAAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQYCBAUDB//EADwQAAIBAwIEAwYFAgUDBQAAAAECAwAREgQhBRMxUSJBYQYUI zJx8EJScoGRFaEzYrLR8UOxwSRzgpKi/8QAGAEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEDAgT/xAAeEQEBAAIBBQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMRAiEiMUFxEv/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A 40pSgUqGIF/SuFN7YcOU2M6m3miyOv/ANkBX 9DTvUrW0GvhmXOKRHXujA/sex9K2aBSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKBSl KBSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKDzaJTuQp oFK9KUClKUHzz2 4u0k40Yvy1QPKQSMy3RCBuVAsbeeXpXEk1kBIjWJx2PLIU2HkT 1rZ9v45I9aXIssgUo4I3IAUrb0K/wD6FaOq1UngI5ZK3urEi9x1uAbVjzt3p68XGa3HjwLiSQTLLCJ EuwVw9wHUnfY9R6 Rr6d7XtIdDqTFzcil15PMz6j5OX4r2v8ALvXzvg2ned4Vsvh8R tvfEj eoFfVc VGL/hAH1OwH9604Tt28 W99imx67WQ80wLqfd2mAjfUw6rUPGBCS9oiRMUaQKoLdLt5Wr1 h4/xXJWk02KZqrRJBK7rlofeHZZMsXCzAxdACSBcGrPHxVLEtdbXv sxFhe56AjoeoHSjcWisLHIncCxG2YQnfsTXbNR/6xxNnWcwSZQw6lVtp9QqNk2iaN2iO5YBpbKDduWwHnXY4PqZk0 mvkkE5Zp5cMdPqFZsgojZIjd1BNrdqsUfER0cYmwNhdhY28VwN gL73AtT qRWBud9hdWFyQCOve43oNbhSmTTrDLzg6RpHKSZkYty0LFJRYt 13ZT1uL3Bqt8AOvih0SIsxMsEs07aoamZuZHyhHHlI3wi2TeE9 jYdatR4pf5Vv8vUlR42w2Njex62r1PEogCbnbr4X8s m2/8Ahv8Ax9KKqB9ouJyBOVAVyAu0uk1IxPuksz3UlT/jIidfxW3JFYan2n4inLDoiGSQAEaPUyHFtGdRisStk7LIChI/gGrgeKRb7tt18D WV/Lp4H/itmXTxsUZlUtGSyMVBKEgqSpPymzMLjyJqCrce1muOl0jYvC0i htQIgWMbFASm29rlhf0Fdn2YlnaBTMGD3PzizFbnEsLCxrqUFb XLLjmP8z77YTDZmuX9X56TSlKxblKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKU oFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoOV7RcCh1kXLkBFt1dbZI3df9q pEnsJr18IfSSqOjScyM29VCsL/vX0u9TXN4y XfHnePhWvZb2Y91yeRleRthiCFQDyW 5389vLarFJGGBBFweorOldTp0c27u61o9DEoxCi2/r12N79dqn3KK98QT3O/S3f8ASv8AA7VsVGQojwGii2GC7G/T6f7D BQ6KLbwLt026Wtb/Sv8CtilB4Lo4h0VRex6flOQ/g7/AFo2jiNroptt073v/qb TXvSg1pdDExBKjY3 t8uvf52/k1s1AN6EigmlKUClKgGgmlKUClKUClKUClQWFCwoJpUA1NApSo BvQTSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKCqcQEia6fUJk3Jgh5kYuc4m fUczFfN1xDDa5xK/irHhXEZGEccDxj3ifVOJWHMGEczEBACLsc1I3tZWqziKNWL2AZ wFLeZC5FV/bJv5NaM/DdCqRwtHp1VpC0aEIt5GyZjGPznJztvuaDl/wBd1Cizcom80AZVIV542UQ2FzYMC4IubFTvW9wHiUsxYNh8ONF kxH/Xu4mUdguKW/XW82h0yogKRLHAc0FlCxlb IeS2ud/U166bTRJkUVV5jF2KgDJmtdj3JsN/Sg4Oi0EGpfVtOM3jmaMBmPwVUDl8ux GSpD5CxOfXYVzeFTaiWXRFZUDNpZ7SyLzC8azwiKQKCMslwYtf z6b7WjW8F0kzZywROxGJLIpLKL2VvzLudjtuajiPDtJIU50cTH dEzAvvuUS/cL0HkKCt8T9qNQum50YVnigaeVEjBUhS4D8x3QJG3KkItk1t7G 1ju8Q4rqw2qaMw4wSxIEdGJcSrEWuwPhsZLjY9K6 q4LpJMc4IWCpywCi2CdMLfl9PKvdtDCc7ovxCGfb5ioUKT6jFf 4FBw5eK6hOdEzo0olRImSBiXzTmFRHnbIBZPEWAAFz033fZviM k8Gcq4uryRsPB1ikePcKzKD4dwGIvfetzVcL08mWcaNmQzXF7l Nlb6jvRU0 mj/AOlDGD3VFBc tgLk/wB6CvcO4nMsWgNo4dO8MPijhyTOQheVZWHJXdArWIu25FgDte2 Gu5B0kuOWErm3QC8Eoyc/hQXuxsbAE2Nq6g4Npbxnkx3iCrH4R4Qm6AfpO47VtyQIxQsoJQ kqT5EgqSP2JH70FY4hxjWK/JjtI8cCTMyQM6ytI0gVVs45afCO92PiHY3mbjuraZ1jibGJ40Z OSWyzSN5Ly5AIQJNtjup77dh A6MrGpgiIiBVBiPCpsSi9l2Hh6bDtXrNwvTvIJWijMi2s5UX8J utz52JJF lBxG4tqgJJc4MI9X7vy8GyZWmWIHPLwv4wQLG9vXaNHrZy0cUX Ii5kuryIiuPhTWDBQRdjkSSepJNdDhfBNOGM2MMjtI8yShQbCQ kqVbzIDEBux9a6MehiUhlRQVLEEDoZTlIf/kdzQcHQ8V1U3u8atCjmOR5XMbMGMMgitGmQspN2NybCw871taX jLjh51ThXZIXlITZW5YY2XrYHGsuLcEEgjWNNKAhYgTQtJYubk rZlte7XHnet/hehWGGOEHIIuNyAMu5IGwub7UHC4hxTWadXzk08hbSyzoUjZQj whD0yOcZzG xFvO 3rx3jU0Q1XL5ZMWj94UN e7gZW/Ccf8AvXV0XB9LDlyoYkyGJxRRdReyfp3Ph6b1hDwLRorosESq6 8tgFADJ U9x6UGcx1KQSFcJZgrFBbBWbcqtienQbn9xXIh4tO/KiWRBK8jo7SwMhj5aCQx8vLxOQykHKxW7C9t7DPCjqyOAysLMC Lgg RrSXhWjaMxCKEor3KgA2frkfMPYjfrvQcOTiUnMiaQK7aZ9QpM YKiTlw5XUEmxsbEXO4NYmWcz6RpX078zSzyBUQra405IF2Oabg X2/vtZoeHwoIwsaKIr4BVAC5fNYDvc3 teGl4JpIzeOGJDYrdVA8LWuot0Xbp0oK2vHdVjGsEX Fp4ZOXHAWDmRCeWCGAiWy4g2O57Cx6La/XM2v5QjPu8oiijx8TXh08jMSWAJHNksu17AEiupLwbSsYy0MZM ahEJUeFR0X9I7dK9ZeHQMJFaNCJWDyAj5mAUBj6gIgv8A5RQeH CdVzYci ZBZWJiaIgqSCrRtcgi1vXr0NV7hnEdU0EIhOmiC8Ph1AAhJUMy v4FUMMY/ABbyFWzTaWONQiIqqL2VRYbm5P1JJP715w8OgQWWNFAjEVgLfD S KfpGR29aDPQajmRxva2aK1u2QBt/evevKIIqqFsFAAW3S3RQP7V60ClYGVQwXIZEEhbi5AsCQOwuv8 is6BSlKBSlKBSlKBSlKCoe1MjyzYJHLI2lTmoY1BA1DG8ORuLW VWuO0teWt1TPqIdbHJKQugmmSHGGzWMRwJKFwSSt7MDdB03Btk LxZyKuOezSAAA IYqzd7hLX/wAvpUrpI1 VUUgEAqqgjI5Nb6nc9zQU/X6qYJJG2rGoWbQaiZhhCLELEFMZjAIjs72ByPdjW779NpuZzJm kU6XnD4cQ5TqVTGMDG6HNbBySLbtY7bXDOCxRzNm0DO0bfDjhS JcJGXmOyC bMVQFifLoLmu2 njPVEPhw3UHwnqv6fSgqOm4prLSxGVs01ECB5hpncLMVzRxCBH cC9rbi4vetjT6ydZFheXm8rXCHmOkQdkbR88ZYAKGBe11C7Adz ewwcOgQBUiiVRawVFUDHdbADa3l2r093iuTgl8sicVvljiGJ/NjYX7bUFL18 ofT6qOXUahJl5UjYDSFFRpLXgYIbxHFv8AE8Yx3sDvtcZ4pPFI oSadhpzDHKXGjCStMyg8zYSFyrAjlhFBPnYqLLBwzTorokMKrJ fNVjRQ1 uQAs1/WoHCtMCh5EF0UIh5aeFBYhF22UWGw22oOBJrtUGaXnnBdaunEP LjxZJJI4/E1s81LkgggeRB61s 0 ld5uG2mljA1BuEWAhvgTMCeYjH8JG1tnPnYjunTR9MEsWztiPm BBDfquAb lZPEpxJAJU3UkA2NiLjsbEj9zQVbS8S1BOnm94Dc6cwtpcIsVF 3DBCBzBKgXJiWIIRvCLi3T9mZJpEaWWUvk8iqmMaqgjmlVSLDI sVCgkkjwiwG9 imghEjSiKISMLNIEUOR2LdSK9Yo1UWUBRubAAC5NybDuST 9BUtPxWeTUqqzTCLU85EuNIMOVe0kCgM xFjzbgm3hHSul7FIw0GlylklLRK2UnLuLqPAMFUED1ue5NdI6T TRF5eXCh3d5AiA3AILs3W9r79q9NFDCq/CWNVc5/DVQGL7l9upPfzoKHp K6xYdFDp01Hg0EMwMPuNnZlZcZfeXU8sYLfl Lx/Mu1 rr NzieMq0gVZoYJYz7ty8p XkoO8ruokBBUqv6rGrJPwzTuI1eGFljty1aNCEtsMAR4bDtWOp 02lDiR44cyVQOyJkTkCi5Wv81iB3oKpxjUakw8SjlnnRzBNJFy xpTHyo2NjE2JcHFo1cSb3Y4WterJqNR7vpGdpZHMcd YyxFmP4TZQiXuR Ud7bmtrTaDToZCkUSmQ3kKIgLnzzI Y9etekWkiVOWqRrGBjgqqFseoxG1tztQVGDimsxli5rZpqYEDy jTu4WdlzRxCBHcC9rDa4vfz9zxDUpfTmc397Gn95dIg6o2nE4J AUR8wsRGDjbxDYnrZIOHQIAqRRKotYKigDDdbADa3l2rKXSRMH Vo42EnzgqpD7AeIH5tgBv2FBUdaZ5MIzq5hyNasQnjXTBpA0Qb 4mSFC6sxXwqB6Xr0eTURPPMkxCjXxxmLCMq6zNponLsRkGGZK4 lRtuDVoPDoDHyeVFyrW5eC4WG4GFrWvWTwRWN0S1w58ItktiHP qMVN/QdqCq8M4xrpdTflziLnSwsGOhEKrEZFVls/vHMJVCbi1ifCOtdj2WeeTSwyyzNI88aSHwxqEyRbhAoG19/FfcnoLAbsGl0zMNQkcJd1FpgiZMhFx47XIt61spGFUKoChRZQA AABsAAPIdqCpS8e1KwysCGfRwPz/CgDzBiiHcgKtkeS112ZdwKx03FdYscwlGrXIxLA8n9NMzPKzBl UQuYgoATFnt8x a29j4Xw7lCTJg7yvzJXxC5NZVFl8gFVVAudh1NZR8I0qo8YggE b7ugiQKx7strH96Ct6HiGrlWCLnsrHUSwPKFgZyscbsp2Xl8wE LuFx2O3lVtVwQbEG1wbEHcbEbedxWEejiW2McYxNxZVFiRiSLd Dbb6V6RRKoIVVUEliFAFyxJYm3mSSSfWgo l959x4dlyOVno7Y8zO3Ohx67X6VtcO4vrpdUfh6gRDUSQMpOhE ISNnUOPH7xzDirbrazbLazVbBpo8VXBMVtiuIsuJBWw6CxAt2t Xn7hBzOdyouba3MwXO3bO17elBzOMaiYahEiMQY6TUOnNAx5iN pxGXYeIJdzcD/wK9PZrVM6SK7ztJHJi4nGnDISqsFBgARlsykEb2O 4NdOXTxt8yI3hKeJQfC1sl38jYXHnYVGk0kUShIkSNB0WNVVR9 ANhQe1KUoFKUoFKUoFKUoKpxbVNHNrGVzGMdKryAAmNGeUO 4IFgTuQQOp6V4Sa2THUrFq1aJGiKTSyxLuxbn6dZsSL4qhBIJB lIuNiLjiP5rHlra1hbtYW/igp s4xIYHeKSVR7i8imTAsHV8Q5K7N9RsRvves JayeB9XGNRJiI9NIZHEZaETzyxTyr4cQAkYbcEKQT02q3FB2Hb p5dq89VAXVgGZCRbNQhYfTIEHz6g9aDi z pyn1SLqGnjRIijFkaxbm5AOoGXyrvv28q5YJhl4s6zPnHPHOYy 4N4lh0zSEJ1sQsiA luoqy8M4YIcyXeR3tk8mAJCghVAQKqqLnYDzPet0oOth0t08u1 BU9LxLUtIEDFjJlrEWwHwMGWOK/6 UT5 I1lwPiBaTSYaptQZUY6hDy/h2TLPFQDCQ9kwP5jcEi9WsKOw7VAQC9gN u3X60Fc4/PqBKYIpSjauMCBrA8t4ixmYX7oy9fNa0JeOtJEsvMaNdTLjFeV IVURxeNJJGVip5gl UXOI8gaudhUYDpYW lBUuBavUTnQ5zOL6d5JAmPxHjljVSWxG1sr2Vb36DpW57Ka5na VHl5zqFZnjkjkiORcAx4gGM7boem27bmrEFHYVCoB0AH0FBU5e JOs qQzF25crRiKSNljCKpxliAyjcG9muQfMi4WvHier1OGrkXUSId Po4p0ACFTJaZmL3F2U4KCLja/nYi5YDfYb9duv1pgOw7dKCo6/WT6d9UnPkZY10k5aTC6LLqJE1BJUACPCK/p4v2z1PEVmkkxkDomq0wUqQVFypbEjruatmI7Dt9/3qBGvYfwPLpQUbSapIIZ0E8mba2SNspo05d5ZpFMjsp5Suo62u cltub1scH1mo1A0iNOy5e9K7RMpzEEypHZyq32PzBVv 9XExrvsN uw3t0vUhR2H/PWgok/F9SU06tPgDHJ8VpYIDJJHIYwxLKVJAUMVAAJbpYWrb1nEZPiCf V 7yJAjRrGY8XcoS8iBwTMM/DiOw2uwq3mNSLEC3W1hQoDbYbdNulBUeIcdeOPWCSQRTcmN447 jIFo/Fywd2AcMPO1q95NcRq5Y3mL5hxGkUkZEYWK5WeIDJTcMQ9yCSB cXANnZAeoH8UwFybC56m3Wgp2g1UyRaWFXP/qtPByT QqijUY/SPFx6k1boJ0e LK2JKnEg2ZTZlNvMHYitccPHO5xZziuCIcQsYNsioABJOK7km1 trXNbgFBNKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoOdLrWEjKQF QKTkw8xa5v236ehrDS612ZAcCG7A7j4hDdSB8qAju1dSlBx04h MMCygqwJ2G/4QtrE/iYDfv5Wre0kzFIyw8TDxYg2Btv8AQVtUoOc tOMhDR3WQLfyALKCWF oBPn5V5rxUjYrfYnIHEEZMoYA/hsoJO9sh1FdWlBzdZrmXHEpcqWx63AUm4NxcXt5b71jHrn6eFi QxVV2JxfFW6/KRY/sbXrqUoPDQzF442IsWUE7W3I328q96UoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFK UoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoFKUoIsKYj0qs 8X4VqnmnZB4Hg5YHOdbvkhDBRsLAP9saz4LwvVRzO0hUq0KKTz Hc8xUjU4E9E8Lk33JIPegseI9KYj0rjR6PUqAocKLG IHUqALZG6i/a 9z52r0aLV72YWttcKT37Wv4iO3w1/MaqOriPSmI9K5Qh1V93NgVNgqLe1srm53 a46djW7p1k5Vn3ex32F9zY7bDa3S9vXrUVsYj0piPSqIPZziWM AWQIY0kUMJ5bgsGCPIOjvupJGxt5VYODaKeKKMMDcSs2AlaTFG zxXmPYtbIH06DoKDt4j0qMR6VyFg1YBAYC5BuArW8FmsDYfNY9 QLX8 vR0gk8We/iOPT5fIbf8/9qD2VRYVOI9KJ0FTQRiPSmI9KmlBGI9KYj0qaUEYj0piPSppQR iPSmI9KmlBGI9KYj0qaUEYj0piPSppQRiPSmI9KmlBGI9KYj0q aUEYj0piPSppQRiPSmI9KmlBGI9KYj0qaUClKUClKUClKUEX 7Goy 7GsJtQq2Bvc QVmP1stzasopQwuDcf7dQR5GgnL7saZfdjWVKDHL7saZfdjWVe LauMZDJbqbMAbkEi4uB02oPTL7saZfdjUqwIBG4PQipoMcvuxp l92NZUoMVOw/wBjTL7sa134hECQW6X8m8vmP0Hmeg862qDHL7saZfdjWVKDHL7 saZfdjUswAJOwG5JrxXVxkgZDfYfv0oPXL7saZfdjWVKDHL7sa ZfdjWVKDHL7saZfdjWVKDHL7saZfdjWVKDHL7saZfdjWVKDHL7 saZfdjWVKDHL7saZfdjWVKDHL7saZfdjWVKDHL7saZfdjWVKBS lKBSlKBSlKDW1ET5B0xvspDXsQDfqNwRdrfWs9PFiDc3LG5PS5 2Gw8hYAftXtSg4zcHbmiQMo JmQARYAx2tbzshB/9xq7IpSgVqclwzlcbPvc3uCBboPmGw8xW3Sg19LCyxKhxJVQuw IBsLetcpeCvYA4GyuLXIvnJzFFwOi7en UV3aUTTzgQqqgm5AAJsBcgbmw6fSvSlKK0H0slmQFcHJ8VzkoY ksAOh6mxuLX6G2/trtNnGyWG9rAkgbEEbj6Vs0oK7/QZciTIDcqTsR8ocZADoRkLDfp5bAWKlKGnlqoiyOot4lK7 oIrR9xa6 FQFZSPiuwXEgnFSLDpb0vXTpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQK UpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUp QKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQKUpQf/9k=
Zippyjuan
04-26-2019, 06:00 PM
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2019/04/26/peace-in-afghanistan-can-us-recipe-be-cherished-in-afghanistan-ever/
Peace in Afghanistan: Can US Recipe be cherished in Afghanistan ever?
After several rounds of US Taliban Peace Talks in Doha, the reluctantly agreed upon 'so-called intra-Afghan dialogue’ scheduled on April 19, 2019 was abruptly cancelled on April 18 amid seemingly insignificant disagreements about the size and composition of the Afghan delegation, which Taliban objected to.US State Department conveyed their disappointment to President Ghani on April 21 and condemned the Taliban’s announcement of starting another offensive in the spring. It however was waiting to happen, as Taliban was in no mood to talk to present Afghan Government calling them a puppet Government of foreign powers. Afghanistan current regime is also not too happy with a sense of isolation in various rounds of US – Taliban Peace Talks without their participation, as Taliban continued terror attacks on them.
The Reality of Afghanistan
After 17 years of war Taliban seized more territory and controls at least 50% of the country. Taliban cannot be relied upon for any kind of peace settlement for the time being with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as their Chief negotiator, released from Pakistani jail last year, who has political ambitions, and has held various appointments in erstwhile Taliban Government prior to US invasion. They will eventually find reasons to rule the country, even if they promise to allow a peaceful democratic solution. The Government in power under President Ghani and CEO Abdullah do not give the confidence of being on the same page or being strong enough to face Taliban all by themselves. Taliban is unlikely to give up the ambition of ruling through Sharia laws, irrespective of the liberalised wordings they have been using during peace talks, because they have radicalised cadre, which needs to be satisfied by their leaders. The people may not be too happy as a large segment of population has got used to some liberties like women working at common place with men. Afghan military is not yet strong enough to take on Taliban in the entire country. It still needs lot of training, capability and military hardware. With continuous attacks by Taliban and splinter groups of Daesh getting into Afghanistan, peace is a distant dream.
Significance of US-Taliban Peace Talks
During US- Taliban Peace talks, there seemed to be some consensus regarding ‘Issues of Framework Agreement’. In principle US has agreed for phased withdrawal from Afghanistan after the final agreement. Timelines for withdrawal however have not been agreed as Taliban wants withdrawal in eighteen months and US is suggesting a period of five years linking it with implementation of agreement. Taliban have agreed to not to allow any terrorist group to operate from Afghan territory including getting rid of all foreign terrorist groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda. This however is unrealistic and in my opinion, unlikely to happen. A comprehensive ceasefire to pave way for electoral process was commonly agreed to but is lacking implementation. The main issues still under discussion had been withdrawal of US and its allies’ troops from Afghanistan in a phased manner from Afghanistan along with implementation of other clauses of the final peace agreement. Taliban had declined talks with present Afghan Government, but later reluctantly agreed to Intra Afghanistan Talks with all stake holders including present Afghanistan Government to reach consensus amongst all, which have now been called off.
The US Taliban exclusive peace talks have isolated the present regime in power under President Ghani. It is clear that unless the present democratically elected Government is on board, no peaceful elections can take place, even after expiry of its term in September this year. The democratic peaceful elections are unlikely in near future unless intra Afghanistan talks take place. The ingress of pockets of Daesh in Afghanistan make situation even more complex. US want to withdraw as per their time table and President Trump wants to make such announcement before the next election. President Trump’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan will definitely alter the strategic balance in favor of Taliban, Pakistan, China and Russia. It however poses a question mark that is US willing to concede this important strategic space in Af-Pak region to its competitors so easily, after 17 years of war, knowing that China and Pakistan are waiting to grab it? Is domestic pressure on President Trump is so heavy due to election promises made by him. In an interview to CNN he had indicated that Russia, China, India and Pakistan should replace US troops in Afghanistan and resolve this problem as a regional issue. In my opinion treating it is a regional issue may not be realistic, because with radicalisation of Pakistan, growing strength of Taliban, and some existence of al Qaeda, Haqqani network and Daesh, I see a large caliphate in making, with levers of power with radicalized organisations. If the entire globe had to put in synergised effort to deal with Taliban and Daesh earlier, it is going to be even more difficult when the new grouping of radicalised elements emerges again.
Swordsmyth
04-27-2019, 03:29 PM
U.S. agrees with Russia, China on pulling troops from Afghanistan
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/27/world/u-s-agrees-russia-china-pulling-troops-afghanistan/...
Swordsmyth
04-29-2019, 12:24 AM
Hoping to renew the push for direct talks with the Taliban, Ghani has convened a grand consultative assembly on Monday.
The Loya Jirga, a traditional gathering of elders, religious scholars, and prominent Afghans, will see more than 3,000 people gather amid tight security for four days of discussion under a large tent in Kabul.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-peace-deal-hinges-ceasefire-taliban-u-peace-145737226.html
Swordsmyth
04-29-2019, 12:28 AM
Hoping to renew the push for direct talks with the Taliban, Ghani has convened a grand consultative assembly on Monday.
The Loya Jirga, a traditional gathering of elders, religious scholars, and prominent Afghans, will see more than 3,000 people gather amid tight security for four days of discussion under a large tent in Kabul.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-peace-deal-hinges-ceasefire-taliban-u-peace-145737226.html
Afghanistan's president is hosting a grand council Monday of some 2,500 prominent figures to agree on a shared approach to peace talks with the Taliban, but the gathering instead looks to further aggravate divisions within the U.S.-backed government.President Ashraf Ghani hopes to showcase unity at the gathering — known as Loya Jirga — that brings together politicians, tribal elders and other prominent figures.
But Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, his partner in a unity government brokered by the United States after a bitterly disputed election in 2014, heads a list of no-shows.
"If Abdullah and his supporters don't attend, there's going to be a glaring absence of key stakeholders that will diminish the event's credibility in a big way," said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program at the Washington-based Wilson Center.
"Given all the divides in Afghanistan, there is as much of a need for reconciliation within Afghanistan as there is for reconciliation with the Taliban."
The Loya Jirga, a deeply-rooted tradition aimed at building consensus among Afghanistan's various ethnic groups, tribes and factions, was intended to strengthen Ghani's hand. Instead, it risks being seen as a meaningless gathering of his loyalists.
"The problem is that the whole enterprise appears to have become completely politicized, which means that the Loya Jirga could well drive the country further apart rather than bring it together," Kugelman said.
The Americans appear increasingly impatient with Ghani, with Khalilzad tweeting his frustration after the talks fell apart. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Ghani to urge him to join the talks in Doha, where the Taliban maintain an office.
Even Pakistan, which the U.S. and Afghanistan regularly accuse of aiding insurgents, issued a statement saying talks were the only path to peace in Afghanistan. It promised not to interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs and even condemned the Taliban's recent announcement of the start of their annual spring offensive.
"The so called offensives are condemnable and will undermine the peace process. It is not right to seek an edge in dialogue through coercion." Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said. "Pakistan will not be party to any internal conflict in Afghanistan anymore."
Over the weekend, Khalilzad tweeted his approval of Khan's statement. The U.S. envoy recently met with representatives of China and Russia, saying there is an "emerging international consensus on the U.S. approach to end the war and assurances terrorism never again emanates from Afghanistan."
The State Department said the three countries called for intra-Afghan talks, urged a cease-fire and supported "an orderly and responsible withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan as part of the overall peace process."
The statement also said the Taliban have agreed to fight Islamic State militants in Afghanistan and sever ties with al-Qaida, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement and other militant groups. It said the Taliban have promised to "ensure the areas they control will not be used to threaten any other country." The statement called on the Taliban "to prevent terrorist recruiting, training, and fundraising, and expel any known terrorists."
A Taliban official familiar with the talks said the two sides are still haggling over a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, with the Taliban demanding six months and the U.S. seeking 18 months. The Taliban official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.
But even as Khalilzad closes in on an agreement with the Taliban, he appears increasingly at odds with the Kabul government.
During a visit to Washington last month, Ghani's national security adviser, Hamdullah Mohib, accused Khalilzad of personal ambitions and sidelining the government. Ghani did not respond to those comments, and Mohib remains in his post.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-president-holds-council-set-052707904.html
r3volution 3.0
04-29-2019, 06:05 PM
I suspect that the final deal, if there is one, will set the deadline soon enough to get everyone hopped up, but far enough into the future that no one will remember when nothing happens (like those huge spending cuts the GOP is always talking about implementing in the semi-distant future).
Swordsmyth
05-01-2019, 08:24 PM
Taliban and U.S. officials will begin their sixth round of talks in Doha on May 1, although officials from the Afghan government remain on the sidelines as the Taliban continue to oppose Kabul's participation, Reuters reported.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-us-taliban-officials-begin-sixth-round-talks
shakey1
05-01-2019, 09:11 PM
GTFO already.
enhanced_deficit
05-02-2019, 12:02 AM
May 1, 2019
U.S. military stops tracking key metric on Afghan war as situation deteriorates
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has stopped tracking the amount of territory controlled or influenced by the Afghan government and militants, a U.S. watchdog said on Tuesday, one of the last remaining public metrics that tracked the worsening security situation in the war-torn country.
FILE PHOTO: An Afghan man rides on a bicycle past the site of a car bomb attack where U.S soldiers were killed near Bagram air base, Afghanistan April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail/File Photo
The move comes as U.S. and Taliban officials have held several rounds of talks aimed at ensuring a safe exit for U.S. forces in return for a Taliban guarantee that Afghanistan will not be used by militants to threaten the rest of the world.
The Taliban announced the start of a spring offensive in early April. Even before the announcement, combat had intensified across Afghanistan in recent weeks and hundreds of Afghan troops and civilians have been killed.
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said in a report published late Tuesday night that the U.S. military had told the watchdog it was no longer tracking the level of control or influence the Afghan government and militants had over districts in the country.
DIMINISHING ACCOUNTABILITY
Over the past few years, the U.S. military has restricted data on the Afghan war being shared with the public, including the size of the security forces, casualty numbers and the attrition rate for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF).
In 2018, the U.S. military said a “human error in labeling” caused it to treat as classified information the amount of territory controlled or influenced by the Taliban and the Afghan government.
The rest of the report painted a bleak picture of the security situation in Afghanistan.
Citing numbers from Resolute Support, SIGAR said the monthly average of enemy-initiated attacks increased by 19 percent from November 2018 through January 2019 compared to between August to October 2018.
ANDSF casualties increased by about 31 percent from December through February compared to the same three-month period last year.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-military/us-military-stops-tracking-key-metric-on-afghan-war-as-situation-deteriorates-idUSKCN1S734C
Swordsmyth
05-04-2019, 06:00 PM
The US special envoy tasked with forging a peace deal with the Taliban said Saturday that America stands ready for "all sides" to lay down arms in the 17-year conflict.Peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is leading the latest round of talks with the Taliban in Doha, where the two foes are pursuing a deal that would see the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in return for Taliban security guarantees.
"All sides laying down arms is the outcome of any peace process," Khalilzad tweeted.
"All sides agreeing to reduce violence is a necessary step toward achieving that outcome and the morally responsible choice to make. We stand ready."
Khalilzad's comments come a day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he was prepared to call an "immediate" and "permanent" ceasefire -- but the Taliban rebuffed the offer.
Ghani had also offered to release 175 prisoners as a goodwill gesture. His talk of a ceasefire comes as momentum builds in various Afghan peace talks.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/envoy-says-us-ready-sides-lay-down-arms-114642155.html
Swordsmyth
05-04-2019, 06:03 PM
The Taliban on Saturday said the gap is narrowing in talks with Washington's special peace envoy over a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. The two sides are continuing to meet in Qatar, where the insurgent movement maintains a political office.In a voice message to The Associated Press, the Taliban spokesman in Doha, Suhail Shaheen, said both sides have offered new proposals for drawing down U.S. and NATO forces. This would be a significant initial step toward a deal to end nearly 18 years of war and America's longest military engagement.
"There are proposals to lower the gap between the two sides, but (it) still needs negotiation to reach a final agreement," he said in an English language statement.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-gap-narrowing-talks-us-064634115.html
Swordsmyth
06-22-2019, 10:02 PM
The United States and the Taliban will open fresh negotiations next week, the US negotiator said Saturday, as he voiced hope for progress in ending America's longest war.Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative on Afghanistan, said the two sides would start their seventh round of talks on June 29.
"Based on my recent visits to Afghanistan and Qatar, I believe all sides want rapid progress," Khalilzad wrote on Twitter.
The State Department, announcing Khalilzad's travel before the date of the latest talks were set, said the negotiations with the Taliban would take place as usual in Qatar.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/us-taliban-hold-more-talks-ending-war-181845781.html
goldenequity
06-23-2019, 05:56 AM
The United States and the Taliban will open fresh negotiations next week, the US negotiator said Saturday, as he voiced hope for progress in ending America's longest war.Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative on Afghanistan, said the two sides would start their seventh round of talks on June 29.
"Based on my recent visits to Afghanistan and Qatar, I believe all sides want rapid progress," Khalilzad wrote on Twitter.
The State Department, announcing Khalilzad's travel before the date of the latest talks were set, said the negotiations with the Taliban would take place as usual in Qatar.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/us-taliban-hold-more-talks-ending-war-181845781.html
1142679041440395270
https://twitter.com/RisboLensky/status/1142679041440395270
this is a fool's errand.
Afghanistan has become utterly lawless... worse than it's ever been.
don't 'negotiate' ffs.
just.
get.
out.
want the truth?
Ultimately Afghanistan is going to fall RIGHT into the lap of the new 'multi-polar' world 'collective' of SOVEREIGNS.
1142498630957445122
https://twitter.com/RisboLensky/status/1142498630957445122
goldenequity
06-23-2019, 06:50 AM
(rant alert... it's Sunday.) https://7img.net/users/3715/65/05/91/smiles/1685275927.gif
I am WATCHING this world alliance of sovereigns CONTINUOUSLY strengthen against, defy and outwit the empire.
Call them all 'commies' or 'reds' or 'socialists' or 'chicoms' or 'ruskies' or whatever supports or constrains ur world paradigm...
but they are NOT the same. (and will never BE so.)
India is not China... and will NEVER become so. Neither will Russia. Never. ever.
In FACT consider this:
the 2 LARGEST populations on the planet (both with rampant rural squalor)
have 2 DIFFERENT SYSTEMS of economics and governance.
'Communist' China
'Democratic/Capitalist' India
Which one has COMPLETELY outperformed the other across the last 2 decades?
(this is NOT an 'apologetic' for communism. put down yer flag haha.)
It's a legitimate question and simple.
The obvious 'answer' DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.
I'm specifically talking about ECONOMICS.
Both will function with WHAT THEY WANT.
Who REALLY cares?
As far as Humanitarian abuses and 'shock' stories like 'organ trafficking etc'.
Both have their 'totalitarian' excesses and abuses. Both.
probably will NEVER change.
MUCH of it stems from the poverty (across centuries) and the 'cheapness' of 'life'.
PROSPERITY has a better chance of changing that....
again: who 'outperformed' who?
The '50s' model of 'saving the world' from (fill in the blank) is a fallacy.
shouting 'chicom'! 'chicom'! 'chicom'! or 'russia'! 'russia'! 'russia'!
will never work AGAIN.... against an informed American public (I hope.)
anyway... I don't want to live in China. I don't want to live in Russia. I don't want to live in India.
but...
I wish them ALL
success
against THAT which seeks to undermine, subvert and subjugate all the sovereigns and take over the fuccking planet.
I 'keep' it that simple.
back to the 'topic'....
Afghanistan will 'give' themselves to the coming alliance. Russia, China and Iran will be INVITED in. watch.
Swordsmyth
06-23-2019, 02:43 PM
(rant alert... it's Sunday.) https://7img.net/users/3715/65/05/91/smiles/1685275927.gif
I am WATCHING this world alliance of sovereigns CONTINUOUSLY strengthen against, defy and outwit the empire.
Call them all 'commies' or 'reds' or 'socialists' or 'chicoms' or 'ruskies' or whatever supports or constrains ur world paradigm...
but they are NOT the same. (and will never BE so.)
India is not China... and will NEVER become so. Neither will Russia. Never. ever.
In FACT consider this:
the 2 LARGEST populations on the planet (both with rampant rural squalor)
have 2 DIFFERENT SYSTEMS of economics and governance.
'Communist' China
'Democratic/Capitalist' India
Which one has COMPLETELY outperformed the other across the last 2 decades?
(this is NOT an 'apologetic' for communism. put down yer flag haha.)
It's a legitimate question and simple.
The obvious 'answer' DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.
I'm specifically talking about ECONOMICS.
Both will function with WHAT THEY WANT.
Who REALLY cares?
As far as Humanitarian abuses and 'shock' stories like 'organ trafficking etc'.
Both have their 'totalitarian' excesses and abuses. Both.
probably will NEVER change.
MUCH of it stems from the poverty (across centuries) and the 'cheapness' of 'life'.
PROSPERITY has a better chance of changing that....
again: who 'outperformed' who?
The '50s' model of 'saving the world' from (fill in the blank) is a fallacy.
shouting 'chicom'! 'chicom'! 'chicom'! or 'russia'! 'russia'! 'russia'!
will never work AGAIN.... against an informed American public (I hope.)
anyway... I don't want to live in China. I don't want to live in Russia. I don't want to live in India.
but...
I wish them ALL
success
against THAT which seeks to undermine, subvert and subjugate all the sovereigns and take over the fuccking planet.
I 'keep' it that simple.
back to the 'topic'....
Afghanistan will 'give' themselves to the coming alliance. Russia, China and Iran will be INVITED in. watch.
America first.
And that means leaving everyone else alone, it was never good for America to meddle with everyone else.
But it also means defending ourselves from all kinds of attacks including economic warfare. (defense NOT aggression labeled defense)
Swordsmyth
06-23-2019, 10:44 PM
Dozens of Afghan political leaders attended a peace conference in neighboring Pakistan on Saturday to pave the way for further Afghan-to-Afghan dialogue.The conference is to be followed by meetings and working sessions over the next two days, all of which come in the run-up to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's visit to Pakistan next week.
Ghani, his political opponents and a broad swath of Afghan civil society have been holding meetings in recent days with the United States' special envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, who continues to press for talks between the Afghan government, the opposition and the Taliban.
There are no representatives of the Taliban at Saturday's conference, held near the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
However, attending the conference is Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who struck a peace deal with Ghani's government and was taken off a U.S. terrorist list. That peace deal was touted as a blueprint for an agreement with the Taliban, although the insurgents dismissed Hekmatyar as a spent force with no military might.
Still, at the outset of Saturday's meeting, Hekmatyar urged his fellow Afghans to press for the Taliban's demand for a quick and full withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan.
Among the figures in attendance at Saturday's conference in Pakistan were the head of the Afghan government-sponsored high peace council, Mohammad Karim Khalili, as well as the leader of the powerful Jamiat-e-Islami political party, Ustad Atta Mohammad Noor, and a current presidential candidate, Haneef Atmar, who is a former national security adviser.
The event was backed by the Pakistani government and organized by two think tanks, the Lahore Center for Peace Research and the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi opened the conference by saying his country will continue its efforts toward peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The Afghan leaders are also scheduled to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan during their visit.
Also on Saturday, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived Islamabad on a two-day visit.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-leaders-begin-peace-summit-081200706.html
Swordsmyth
06-24-2019, 11:24 PM
Upcoming peace talks between the United States and the Taliban will focus on working out a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops from Afghanistan and on a Taliban guarantee militants won't plot attacks from Afghan soil, sources said on Monday.A seventh round of talks between the warring sides begins on Saturday in Qatar's capital of Doha, where U.S. and Taliban negotiators have been trying to hammer out a deal to end to the 18-year-long war since October.
"Once the timetable for foreign force withdrawal is announced, then talks will automatically enter the next stage," said Sohail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Doha.
"We don't need to wait for the completion of the withdrawal, both withdrawal and talks can move forward simultaneously."
Two other sources with knowledge of the talks said the sixth round in May ended with unease on both sides, but since then informal meeting had taken place to work out what can be agreed on.
The U.S. special envoy for peace in Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has also held informal meetings with the Taliban leadership in Doha.
"Based on my recent visits to Afghanistan and Qatar, I believe all sides want rapid progress," Khalilzad said on Twitter.
In March, a draft agreement was reached on the withdrawal of foreign forces in exchange for a commitment by the Taliban to cut ties with militant groups such as al Qaeda.
A Taliban source said both sides were expecting some clarity and results on the prime issues in the new round talks.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/u-taliban-aim-firm-date-110119417.html
jmdrake
06-25-2019, 05:20 AM
That gets us out just under 20 years and it would never have happened with a Dem as president .
Obama pulled us out of Iraq and a LOT of republicans cried foul. Rand Paul, of course was an exception as was Ted Cruz who said that we should have left sooner. Trump was critical of the pullout. Which reminds me. We're still there.
https://www.apnews.com/ab00e32b094b4684a15ef55765d98311
BAGHDAD (AP) President Donald Trumps surprise trip to Iraq may have quieted criticism at home that he had yet to visit troops in a combat zone, but it has infuriated Iraqi politicians who on Thursday demanded the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
Arrogant and a violation of national sovereignty were but a few examples of the disapproval emanating from Baghdad following Trumps meeting Wednesday with U.S. servicemen and women at the al-Asad Airbase.
Trips by U.S. presidents to conflict zones are typically shrouded in secrecy and subject to strict security measures, and Trumps was no exception. Few in Iraq or elsewhere knew the U.S. president was in the country until minutes before he left.
But this trip came as curbing foreign influence in Iraqi affairs has become a hot-button political issue in Baghdad, and Trumps perceived presidential faux-pas was failing to meet with the prime minister in a break with diplomatic custom for any visiting head of state.
On the ground for only about three hours, the American president told the men and women with the U.S. military that Islamic State forces have been vanquished, and he defended his decision against all advice to withdraw U.S. troops from neighboring Syria, He said the U.S. was once again respected as a nation, and declared: Were no longer the suckers, folks.
The abruptness of his visit left lawmakers in Baghdad smarting and drawing unfavorable comparisons to the occupation of Iraq after the 2003 invasion.
Trump needs to know his limits. The American occupation of Iraq is over, said Sabah al-Saidi, the head of one of two main blocs in Iraqs parliament.
Trump, he said, had slipped into Iraq, as though Iraq is a state of the United States.
While Trump didnt meet with any officials, he spoke with Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi by phone. A planned meeting between the two leaders was canceled over a difference in points of view over arrangements, according to the prime ministers office.
The visit could have unintended consequences for American policy, with officials from both sides of Iraqs political divide calling for a vote in Parliament to expel U.S. forces from the country.
The president, who kept to the U.S. air base approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of Baghdad, said he had no plans to withdraw the 5,200 troops in the country. He said Ain al-Asad could be used for U.S. air strikes inside Syria.
The suggestion ran counter to the current sentiment of Iraqi politics, which favors claiming sovereignty over foreign and domestic policy and staying above the fray in regional conflicts.
Iraq should not be a platform for the Americans to settle their accounts with either the Russians or the Iranians in the region, said Hakim al-Zamili, a senior lawmaker in al-Saidis Islah bloc in Parliament.
U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq as part of the coalition against the Islamic State group. American forces withdrew in 2011 after invading in 2003 but returned in 2014 at the invitation of the Iraqi government to help fight the jihadist group. Trumps visit was the first by a U.S. president since Barack Obama met with then-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at a U.S. base outside Baghdad in 2009.
After defeating IS militants in their last urban bastions last year, Iraqi politicians and militia leaders are speaking out against the continued presence of U.S. forces on Iraqi soil.
Supporters of the populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr won big in national elections in May, campaigning on a platform to curb U.S. and rival Iranian involvement in Iraqi affairs. Al-Sadrs lawmakers now form the core of the Islah bloc, which is headed by al-Saidi in Parliament.
The rival Binaa bloc, commanded by politicians and militia leaders close to Iran, also does not favor the U.S.
Qais Khazali, the head of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia that fought key battles against IS in northern Iraq, promised on Twitter that Parliament would vote to expel U.S. forces from Iraq, or the militias would force them out by other means.
Khazali was jailed by British and U.S. forces from 2007 to 2010 for managing sections of the Shia insurgency against the occupation during those years.
Trumps visit would be a great moral boost to the political parties, armed factions, and others who oppose the American presence in Iraq, Iraqi political analyst Ziad al-Arar said.
Still, the U.S. and Iraq developed considerable military and intelligence ties in the war against IS, and they continue to pay off in operations against militants gone into hiding.
Earlier in the month, Iraqi forces called in an airstrike by U.S.-coalition forces to destroy a tunnel used by IS militants in the Atshanah mountains in north Iraq. Four militants were killed, according to the coalition.
A hasty departure of U.S. forces would jeopardize such arrangements, said Iraqi analyst Hamza Mustafa.
Relations between the U.S. and Iraq also extend beyond military ties. U.S. companies have considerable interests in Iraqs petrochemical industry, and American diplomats are often brokers between Iraqs fractious political elite.
Iraqs Sunni politicians have been largely quiet about the presidential visit, reflecting the ties they have cultivated with the U.S. to counterbalance the might of the countrys Iran-backed and predominantly-Shiite militias.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Abdul-Mahdi accepted Trumps invitation to the White House during their call, though the prime ministers office has so far refused to confirm that.
goldenequity
06-25-2019, 07:07 AM
Drexl Spivey
@RisboLensky
3 min.
Rally against Ghani'sStooge Govt. started in Kabul via @Metmaeen #Afghanistan
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D94mW5vXkAAbQed.jpg
Swordsmyth
06-25-2019, 02:00 PM
Obama pulled us out of Iraq and a LOT of republicans cried foul. Rand Paul, of course was an exception as was Ted Cruz who said that we should have left sooner. Trump was critical of the pullout. Which reminds me. We're still there.
https://www.apnews.com/ab00e32b094b4684a15ef55765d98311
BAGHDAD (AP) — President Donald Trump’s surprise trip to Iraq may have quieted criticism at home that he had yet to visit troops in a combat zone, but it has infuriated Iraqi politicians who on Thursday demanded the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
“Arrogant” and “a violation of national sovereignty” were but a few examples of the disapproval emanating from Baghdad following Trump’s meeting Wednesday with U.S. servicemen and women at the al-Asad Airbase.
Trips by U.S. presidents to conflict zones are typically shrouded in secrecy and subject to strict security measures, and Trump’s was no exception. Few in Iraq or elsewhere knew the U.S. president was in the country until minutes before he left.
But this trip came as curbing foreign influence in Iraqi affairs has become a hot-button political issue in Baghdad, and Trump’s perceived presidential faux-pas was failing to meet with the prime minister in a break with diplomatic custom for any visiting head of state.
On the ground for only about three hours, the American president told the men and women with the U.S. military that Islamic State forces have been vanquished, and he defended his decision against all advice to withdraw U.S. troops from neighboring Syria, He said the U.S. was once again respected as a nation, and declared: “We’re no longer the suckers, folks.”
The abruptness of his visit left lawmakers in Baghdad smarting and drawing unfavorable comparisons to the occupation of Iraq after the 2003 invasion.
“Trump needs to know his limits. The American occupation of Iraq is over,” said Sabah al-Saidi, the head of one of two main blocs in Iraq’s parliament.
Trump, he said, had slipped into Iraq, “as though Iraq is a state of the United States.”
While Trump didn’t meet with any officials, he spoke with Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi by phone. A planned meeting between the two leaders was canceled over a “difference in points of view” over arrangements, according to the prime minister’s office.
The visit could have unintended consequences for American policy, with officials from both sides of Iraq’s political divide calling for a vote in Parliament to expel U.S. forces from the country.
The president, who kept to the U.S. air base approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of Baghdad, said he had no plans to withdraw the 5,200 troops in the country. He said Ain al-Asad could be used for U.S. air strikes inside Syria.
The suggestion ran counter to the current sentiment of Iraqi politics, which favors claiming sovereignty over foreign and domestic policy and staying above the fray in regional conflicts.
“Iraq should not be a platform for the Americans to settle their accounts with either the Russians or the Iranians in the region,” said Hakim al-Zamili, a senior lawmaker in al-Saidi’s Islah bloc in Parliament.
U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq as part of the coalition against the Islamic State group. American forces withdrew in 2011 after invading in 2003 but returned in 2014 at the invitation of the Iraqi government to help fight the jihadist group. Trump’s visit was the first by a U.S. president since Barack Obama met with then-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at a U.S. base outside Baghdad in 2009.
After defeating IS militants in their last urban bastions last year, Iraqi politicians and militia leaders are speaking out against the continued presence of U.S. forces on Iraqi soil.
Supporters of the populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr won big in national elections in May, campaigning on a platform to curb U.S. and rival Iranian involvement in Iraqi affairs. Al-Sadr’s lawmakers now form the core of the Islah bloc, which is headed by al-Saidi in Parliament.
The rival Binaa bloc, commanded by politicians and militia leaders close to Iran, also does not favor the U.S.
Qais Khazali, the head of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia that fought key battles against IS in northern Iraq, promised on Twitter that Parliament would vote to expel U.S. forces from Iraq, or the militias would force them out by “other means.”
Khazali was jailed by British and U.S. forces from 2007 to 2010 for managing sections of the Shia insurgency against the occupation during those years.
Trump’s visit would be a “great moral boost to the political parties, armed factions, and others who oppose the American presence in Iraq,” Iraqi political analyst Ziad al-Arar said.
Still, the U.S. and Iraq developed considerable military and intelligence ties in the war against IS, and they continue to pay off in operations against militants gone into hiding.
Earlier in the month, Iraqi forces called in an airstrike by U.S.-coalition forces to destroy a tunnel used by IS militants in the Atshanah mountains in north Iraq. Four militants were killed, according to the coalition.
A hasty departure of U.S. forces would jeopardize such arrangements, said Iraqi analyst Hamza Mustafa.
Relations between the U.S. and Iraq also extend beyond military ties. U.S. companies have considerable interests in Iraq’s petrochemical industry, and American diplomats are often brokers between Iraq’s fractious political elite.
Iraq’s Sunni politicians have been largely quiet about the presidential visit, reflecting the ties they have cultivated with the U.S. to counterbalance the might of the country’s Iran-backed and predominantly-Shiite militias.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Abdul-Mahdi accepted Trump’s invitation to the White House during their call, though the prime minister’s office has so far refused to confirm that.
We are still in Iraq.
Swordsmyth
06-25-2019, 09:46 PM
Pompeo hopes for Afghan peace pact before Sept 1 (https://news.yahoo.com/pompeo-hopes-afghan-peace-pact-202915587.html)
enhanced_deficit
06-25-2019, 10:20 PM
After they shot down US drone, Trump refused to attack Iran to avoid risk for 150 Iranian lives. That drilled another hole in fakenews narrative that Tump was racist.
Could he also announce abruptly to end Afghan war citing Afghan civilians being killed every day due to open-ended US funded war there without any clear purpose?
Afghan War Casualty Report: June 14-20
The site of a bombing in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on June 20, 2019.
The site of a bombing in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on June 20, 2019.CreditCreditGhulamullah Habibi/EPA, via Shutterstock
June 20, 2019
At least seven pro-government forces and seven civilians were killed in Afghanistan during the past week.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/20/magazine/afghan-war-casualty-report-june-14-20.html
enhanced_deficit
06-27-2019, 02:56 PM
https://images05.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2019-06/riley-johnston-1200.jpg?itok=3gOXabCG
Sgt. James G. Johnston, 24, of Trumansburg, New York, and Master Sgt. Micheal B. Riley, 32, of Heilbronn, Germany, died June 25, 2019 of wounds from small arms fire in a battle with alleged Taliban enemy combatants in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province.
2 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan day after Pompeo visits
June 26, 2019 / 1:50 AM / CBS/AP
In a file photo taken July 7, 2018, U.S. Army soldiers look on as U.S. flag flies at a checkpoint during a patrol against ISIS militants at the Deh Bala district in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar. Getty Kabul, Afghanistan -- The U.S. military said two service members were killed Wednesday in Afghanistan (https://www.cbsnews.com/feature/afghanistan-the-way-forward/), but did not offer any details surrounding the circumstances of their deaths. The killings occurred a day after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a quick visit to the Afghan capital of Kabul where he said Washington was hopeful of a peace deal before Sept. 1.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghani...er-2019-06-26/ (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-2-us-troops-killed-mike-pompeo-peace-deal-taliban-september-2019-06-26/)
Swordsmyth
06-28-2019, 09:53 PM
U.S. and Taliban officials will meet in Doha, Qatar, on June 29 for another round of talks aimed at finalizing an agreement to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan, Dawn reported June 28. The two sides are expected to discuss the details of a potential U.S. troop withdrawal and the Taliban's pledge to prevent Afghan territory from being used for transnational terrorist attacks, among other issues.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-us-officials-meet-qatar-seventh-round-peace-talks
Swordsmyth
07-05-2019, 12:28 AM
Taliban and U.S. negotiators are scrambling to finalize a draft agreement that will outline the withdrawal of American and NATO troops from Afghanistan and a verifiable Taliban guarantee to fight terrorism ahead of an all-Afghan peace conference Sunday. Officials familiar with the talks, but not authorized to speak about them, say negotiations went late into the night on Wednesday and throughout Thursday — the sixth day of direct talks between the insurgents and U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. They were to resume again on Friday.
Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Qatar, on Friday told The Associated Press on Friday he wanted to clarify that the draft agreement was being worked upon in an effort to finalize and was not being rewritten.
"By rewriting the draft agreement I meant (only) that we are working on the draft agreement," Suhail said Friday morning. Earlier he said "we have made some progress."
Previously he said agreed-upon clauses were being added to the agreement. On Thursday he also said the two sides had broadened their discussion, without elaborating.
Until now the two sides had been divided on the withdrawal timetable, with the United States seeking more time.
Taliban officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, earlier said the U.S. was seeking up to 18 months to complete a troop withdrawal even as U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News earlier this week that a withdrawal had already quietly begun and that troop strength had been cut to 9,000.
More at: https://www.stripes.com/us-taliban-scramble-to-finalize-draft-on-troop-withdrawal-1.588802
Swordsmyth
07-05-2019, 10:28 PM
Rival Afghans will meet Sunday in Doha for a fresh round of talks mediated by Qatar and Germany, as the US eyes peace with the Taliban within three months.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/rushing-exits-rival-afghans-meet-doha-031426789.html
Swordsmyth
07-06-2019, 08:30 PM
U.S. and Taliban officials will reconvene on Tuesday to continue peace talks described as the "most productive session" by a top U.S. negotiator leading the discussions with the hardline Islamists group to end the Afghan war.The warring sides started a seventh round of peace talks last week, aiming to hammer out a schedule for the withdrawal of foreign troops in exchange for Taliban guarantees that international militant groups will not use Afghanistan as a base for launching attacks.
In a tweet on Saturday, U.S envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been holding peace talks with the Taliban to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan since last year, said the latest round of discussions were the "most productive session" to date.
He said substantive progress had been made on all four parts of a peace deal: counter-terrorism assurances, troop withdrawal, participation in intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations, and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.
Both sides decided on Saturday to put the peace talks on hold for two days, to allow for a meeting between rival Afghan groups to be held in Qatar, Taliban and U.S. officials said.
U.S. officials are demanding a ceasefire agreement and a commitment on direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government before a peace deal is finalised.
Sohail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Qatar's capital, Doha, said the U.S.-Taliban dialogue would resume after the two-day intra-Afghan conference.
A previously planned meeting between Afghan representatives in April collapsed before it started amid disagreement over the size of the proposed 250-strong Afghan delegation as well as over its status as a representative body.
This time, about 40 high-profile Afghan figures and activists will fly to Doha but will not have any official status -- a condition made necessary by the Taliban's refusal to deal directly with the Western-backed government in Kabul.
The Taliban have stressed that those attending the talks planned for Sunday and Monday will only do so in a "personal capacity."
A senior Taliban official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said ensuring the protection of the rights of women and minorities would be discussed in the Doha talks, which have been facilitated by German and Qatari officials.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/u-taliban-break-peace-talks-145906495.html
enhanced_deficit
07-07-2019, 12:06 PM
In the meantime, war violence rages on in the endless war:
12 Dead as Deadly Car Bombing Hits Key Afghan Security Facility in Ghanzi
By Ayaz Gul
July 7, 2019 01:50 AM
Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of a car bomb attack that targeted an intelligence unit in Ghazni, July 7, 2019.
(https://media.voltron.voanews.com/Drupal/01live-166/styles/sourced/s3/2019-07/000_1IF233.jpg?itok=kVhTgbtv)
A provincial health directorate spokesman, Mohammad Hemat, confirmed that Sunday’s blast killed at least 12 people, including civilians, and injured more than 180 others.
Mohammad Khalid Wardak, provincial police chief, told VOA that dozens of the wounded were students heading to schools when the attack happened.
A Taliban spokesman, while claiming responsibility for the bombing, said the powerful blast destroyed an important facility of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), inflicting heavy casualties.
Ghazni is the capital of the Afghan province with the same name and is on a main road linking northern and southern provinces. Many districts of Ghazni are controlled or strongly contested by the Taliban.
Attack in Kabul
Sunday’s bombing came just days after a group of Taliban fighters, including suicide bombers, stormed the engineering and logistics center of the Afghan Defense Ministry in the national capital, Kabul. That attack also began with a massive car bombing and killed around 30 people, mostly security forces.
Schoolchildren were also among dozens of people wounded there.
The Taliban in recent days has also increased battlefield assaults against Afghan security forces, reportedly killing around 300 of them over the past 10 days or so.
https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/deadly-car-bombing-hits-key-afghan-security-facility-ghanzi
jmdrake
07-07-2019, 12:19 PM
If Trump manages to pull off this pull out I will applaud him for that.
Anti Globalist
07-07-2019, 12:31 PM
As long as we're still protecting poppy plants, we aren't leaving Afghanistan anytime soon.
Swordsmyth
07-11-2019, 12:14 AM
The U.S. special envoy for peace in Afghanistan wound up on Tuesday the seventh round of talks he has held with the Taliban in Qatar, after signs of progress in efforts to end the longest war the United States has ever fought.The U.S. envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, met Taliban officials briefly a day after a delegation of Afghan citizens and the militants agreed on a "roadmap for peace", in particular a joint call to end civilian casualties in the 18-year war.
"Khalilzad will now brief his bosses and they will make an announcement. The seventh round has ended," said a senior official privy to the talks.
The United States and the Taliban are getting closer to a deal that is expected to be centred on a U.S. promise to withdraw troops in exchange for a Taliban promise not to let Afghanistan be used as a base for terrorism, officials say.
Khalilzad, in a post on Twitter, said he was heading to China then back to Washington "to report and consult on the Afghan peace process". He did not elaborate.
Taliban officials were not immediately available for comment.
Senior Western officials and diplomats in Kabul who are privy to the talks, said the U.S. government was expected to make an announcement after a briefing from Khalilzad.
"The stage is now being set for a political settlement between the U.S. and the Taliban," said a senior western official who is privy to the negotiations.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/1-u-taliban-talks-end-133620128.html
Swordsmyth
07-22-2019, 08:17 PM
President Trump said Monday that he could easily end the war in Afghanistan by destroying the entire country, but it would result in 10 million deaths.
“We’re like policemen. We’re not fighting a war. If we wanted to fight a war in Afghanistan and win it, I could win that war in a week,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. “I just don’t want to kill 10 million people.”
The population of Afghanistan is around 35 million.
“I have plans on Afghanistan that if I wanted to win that war, Afghanistan would be wiped off the face of the earth. It would be gone, it would be over literally in 10 days.”
Throughout the press availability Trump continued to dwell on the longest war in U.S. history.
“If we wanted to, we could win that war. I have a plan that would win that war in a very short period of time,” Trump said, adding, “We’ve been in there not fighting. They’re building gas stations. They’re rebuilding schools. The United States, we shouldn’t be doing that. That’s for them to do.”
Trump recounted how the U.S. military dropped the most powerful nonnuclear bomb in its arsenal in Afghanistan in 2017 and suggested that the Pentagon had looked to use the weapon much more widely there.
“They were going to make many of them, and I said no,” Trump said.
High on Trump’s agenda with Khan was a request for Pakistan to help negotiate a truce between the Taliban and the Afghan government, so the U.S. could speed up the withdrawal of its troops.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/trump-boasts-afghanistan-would-be-easy-to-fix-i-just-dont-want-to-kill-10-million-people-190412501.html
Swordsmyth
07-22-2019, 08:40 PM
President Donald Trump voiced optimism on Monday that Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan could help broker a political settlement to end the nearly 18-year-old U.S. war in Afghanistan and held out the possibility of restoring aid to Islamabad."I think Pakistan is going to help us out to extricate ourselves," Trump said, with Khan sitting next to him at the start of a White House meeting.
Trump spoke of possibly restoring $1.3 billion in American aid that he had cut last year, depending upon the results of the meeting, and offered to mediate in the longstanding dispute between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir region.
The United States and Pakistan have a complicated relationship. Trump last year complained on Twitter that the Pakistanis "have given us nothing but lies & deceit" and "give safe haven" to militants. Pakistan has denied the accusations.
"They were really, I think, subversive. They were going against us," Trump said on Monday, adding that the U.S. relationship with Pakistan had improved.
Khan told Trump that a peace deal with the Taliban was closer than it had ever been.
"We hope that in the coming days we will be able to urge the Taliban to speak to the Afghan government and come to a settlement, a political solution," Khan said in the Oval Office meeting when reporters were present.
Trump wants to wrap up U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan and sees Pakistan's cooperation as crucial to any deal to end the war and ensure the country does not become a base for militant groups like Islamic State.
Washington wants Islamabad to pressure Afghanistan's Taliban into a permanent ceasefire and participation in talks with the Afghan government.
U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad will travel to Afghanistan and to Qatar, where he will resume talks with the Taliban, from July 22 to Aug. 1, the State Department said.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/1-trump-says-u-working-164930484.html
Occam's Banana
07-22-2019, 09:19 PM
President Trump said Monday that he could easily end the war in Afghanistan [...]
“If we wanted to fight a war in Afghanistan and win it, I could win that war in a week,” Trump told reporters [...]
“I have plans on Afghanistan that if I wanted to win that war, Afghanistan would be wiped off the face of the earth. It would be gone, it would be over literally in 10 days.”
[...]
“If we wanted to, we could win that war. I have a plan that would win that war in a very short period of time,” Trump said [...]
Yeah. Okay. Whatever. :rolleyes:
(I'm sure everyone from Alexander the Great to the British Empire and the Soviets told themselves exactly the same sort of thing ...)
Occam's Banana
07-22-2019, 09:20 PM
Gotta wrap up this thing in Afghanistan soon. America has more important fish Persians to fry ...
enhanced_deficit
07-22-2019, 09:31 PM
“I just don’t want to kill 10 million people.”
The population of Afghanistan is around 35 million.
“I have plans on Afghanistan that if I wanted to win that war, Afghanistan would be wiped off the face of the earth. It would be gone, it would be over literally in 10 days.”
....
Trump recounted how the U.S. military dropped the most powerful nonnuclear bomb in its arsenal in Afghanistan in 2017 and suggested that the Pentagon had looked to use the weapon much more widely there.
“They were going to make many of them, and I said no,” Trump said.
High on Trump’s agenda with Khan was a request for Pakistan to help negotiate a truce between the Taliban and the Afghan government, so the U.S. could speed up the withdrawal of its troops.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/trump-boasts-afghanistan-would-be-easy-to-fix-i-just-dont-want-to-kill-10-million-people-190412501.html
EM.
If this does not put fast track list for Nobel Peace prize (that was wrongly given to Obama), I don't know what else will.
This also reminded me of recent post involving same leaders and Nobel Peace prize prospects:
Trump & KJU names missing on CSM's Peace Prize list, S Korea's Moon & Pakistan's Khan on the list (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?532328-Trump-amp-KJU-names-missing-on-CSM-s-Peace-Prize-list-S-Korea-s-Moon-amp-Pakistan-s-Khan-on-it&)
Granted final result of NK de-nuclearization has not been achieved yet, all the efforts for two historic NKorea peace summits don't count?
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/179AC/production/_101048669_moon_kim_composite.jpg
https://sajoo.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/diana-imran-khan.jpg
A starting list for the Peace Prize
Four world leaders stand out so far this year, showing how peace is possible and natural.
March 5, 2019
By the Monitor's Editorial Board
These may be trying times for the Nobel committee. So many world leaders are standouts to win this year’s Peace Prize. In the midst of their particular crises, each one is trying different ways to prevent violence. Yet each can be held up as a model of peacemaking in process, worthy of a supportive award.
In South Korea, President Moon Jae-in took office in 2017 and soon opened a door to a North Korea that was escalating its missile and nuclear tests. His deft diplomacy laid the groundwork for the first summit between the United States and North Korea last June. With the apparent failure of a second summit last month, he again seeks peaceful engagement. Reconciliation between the two Koreas, he says, is the “driving force” to denuclearize North Korea.
Perhaps the biggest surprise in peaceful leadership – and most critical to the world – is Imran Khan. The former cricket star became Pakistan’s prime minister last year in a country where the military traditionally controls security policy.
In a goodwill gesture that suddenly changed the mood, Mr. Khan returned an Indian fighter pilot shot down inside Pakistan.
“Nobody wins in a war. Especially countries that have the sort of weapons that India and Pakistan possess should not even think of war...,” he said.
Not sure how Christian Science Monitor came up with this startling starting list.
Iit is stunning that any of these leaders did not make starting list :
https://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/24/24-trump-kim-coin.w710.h473.jpg
but this guy did make the list:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/71/15/5c/71155c7367dfe0e2c762d6c388d008f8.jpg
Could anti-Trump media bias be at least partially responsible?
This is what NYMag published recently that can tarnish MAGA's pro-peace image:
https://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/i....w330.h412.jpg (https://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/24/24-trump-nuclear-war-coin-lede.w330.h412.jpg)
From: Will North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un win Nobel Peace Prize? (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?522565-Will-North-Korea-s-Supreme-Leader-Kim-Jong-Un-win-Nobel-Peace-Prize&)
President Donald Trump voiced optimism on Monday that Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan could help broker a political settlement to end the nearly 18-year-old U.S. war in Afghanistan and held out the possibility of restoring aid to Islamabad."I think Pakistan is going to help us out to extricate ourselves," Trump said, with Khan sitting next to him at the start of a White House meeting.
Trump spoke of possibly restoring $1.3 billion in American aid that he had cut last year, depending upon the results of the meeting, and offered to mediate in the longstanding dispute between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir region.
...
EM.
Fakenews media trying to depict MAGA as a 'liar' again:
India Calls Out Trump Lie That He Was Asked To Mediate Kashmir Conflict
HuffPost
July 22, 2019
President Donald Trump spun a tale in front of reporters Monday that he was personally asked by India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, to mediate the Kashmir conflict with Pakistan. But a spokesman for Modi quickly issued a statement that “no such request has been made.”
Trump raised the issue during a meeting with Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, in the White House while reporters listened.
“I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago,” Trump recalled. “He actually said, ‘Would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator?’ I said, “Where?′ He said, ‘Kashmir.’ Because this has been going on for many, many years. I was surprised at how long it’s been going on,” Trump added, revealing his lack of knowledge about the history of the conflict.
Trump added: “I’d love to be a mediator.”
https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/trump-kashmir-india-pakistan-imran-khan-narendra-modi-013622555.html
Swordsmyth
07-23-2019, 09:19 PM
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan says militants may soon release two Western hostages as negotiations on a peace deal for Afghanistan make progress with his country's help.Khan, who was in the middle of a three-day U.S. visit Tuesday, has repeatedly said the men, an American and Australian, could be freed from the Taliban-linked militants who have held them for nearly three years.
"We will be giving you good news about the two hostages," Khan told President Donald Trump in their meeting Monday at the White House.
The prime minister did not mention them by name at the White House but in a later interview said he was referring to an American and an Australian kidnapped by the Taliban.
"Pakistan is playing its part," he told Fox News with Brett Baier. "And I think we're very close. We hope to give some good news in the next 48 hours."
In its ongoing negotiations with the Taliban, the U.S. has been pressing for the release of American Kevin King, 62, and Australian Timothy John Weeks, 50, of Sydney. It's unknown where King grew up in the United States, but the FBI said he speaks both English and Thai.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-pm-says-taliban-may-210526458.html
shakey1
07-23-2019, 10:44 PM
If Trump manages to pull off this pull out I will applaud him for that.
Bring it on.:eyes:
enhanced_deficit
07-24-2019, 10:59 PM
While looking up another story, stumbled on this interesting report on Russian view regarding Afghanistan that had not been discussed in US media:
Russia: The solution to Afghanistan lies in Kashmir (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?537199-India-s-media-calls-Trump-a-Liar-political-storm-over-Trump-s-Kashmir-statement&p=6833360&viewfull=1#post6833360)
23 July, 2019
Swordsmyth
07-25-2019, 11:56 PM
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani agreed that it was time to "accelerate efforts" to end the war in Afghanistan, the State Department said on Thursday.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/pompeo-ghani-agree-accelerate-efforts-165634363.html
Swordsmyth
07-26-2019, 07:57 PM
The Taliban said it’s nearing a peace deal with the U.S. to bring an end to the foreign military presence in Afghanistan, though it ruled out a halt to hostilities for now.
“We are getting close,” Mohammad Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban’s Doha-based political office, said by phone on Thursday. If the U.S. makes “a reasonable and convincing proposal, the peace agreement will be concluded soon.”
More at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/taliban-says-deal-on-u-s-troop-pullout-from-afghanistan-is-near/ar-AAETrss?ocid=spartandhp
Swordsmyth
07-27-2019, 11:38 PM
President Donald Trump's envoy at the negotiating table (https://www.apnews.com/eed63ab0d7194c379d9c7a988cf27bfb) says he's satisfied with the Taliban's commitment to prevent international terrorist organizations from using Afghanistan as a base to plot global attacks. There's even talk that a negotiated settlement might result in the Taliban joining the U.S. to fight Islamic State militants, rivals whose footprint is growing in mountainous northern Afghanistan.
"The world needs to be sure that Afghanistan will not be a threat to the international community," said the envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, who was born in Afghanistan and is a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan. "We are satisfied with the commitment that we have received (from the Taliban) on counterterrorism."
Khalilzad hasn't specifically said why he's satisfied with the Taliban's guarantee that it will prevent attacks from being plotted on Afghan soil. He says only that the "U.S. military withdrawal will be linked to the commitments the Taliban are making."
Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Doha, Qatar, said such guarantees will be written into law once U.S. and NATO troops leave the country.
"After withdrawal of foreign troops from the country and formation of a new Islamic government, legislation will be made that no one can use the soil of Afghanistan against U.S. and its allies," Shaheen said.
John Dempsey, senior adviser in the State Department's Bureau for South and Central Asia, said Khalilzad not only has been given assurances from the Taliban but also is discussing ways the U.S. will be able to verify them.
"He's not going into the discussions naively and taking them at their word," Dempsey said. "He's in discussions on putting in place verification and enforcement and implementation guarantees. We're not there yet."
Dempsey said that by Sept. 1, the U.S. wants to resolve the issue about terrorist groups using Afghanistan to plot attacks and wants to draft a timeline for withdrawing troops. That agreement would allow more progress to be made in ongoing talks between the Taliban and Afghans.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-vows-future-afghanistan-wont-042549118.html
Swordsmyth
07-28-2019, 12:20 AM
An Afghan official says the government will hold its first-ever direct talks with the Taliban, with the meeting expected within the next two weeks.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-official-says-government-hold-054918881.html
Swordsmyth
07-28-2019, 09:47 PM
An Afghan official said Sunday that the government would hold its first-ever direct talks with the Taliban within two weeks, but the insurgents quickly denied any such meeting was planned and reiterated their opposition to negotiating with government representatives in their official capacity.The Taliban have been holding peace talks with the United States for nearly a year but have refused to recognize the Kabul government, viewing it as an American puppet.
Abdul Salam Rahimi, Afghanistan's state minister for peace affairs, said that a 15-member government delegation will meet with the Taliban in Europe, without elaborating.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said "there has been no agreement on such a meeting and that has not been coordinated with Taliban." He said that once the insurgents reach an agreement with the U.S., they would be open to intra-Afghan talks, but any government representatives would have to participate in a personal capacity.
U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who is currently visiting Kabul, appears to share that position. He tweeted that another round of "intra-Afghan" talks would occur "after we conclude our own agreements." He said it would include the Taliban and "an inclusive and effective national negotiating team consisting of senior government officials, key political party representatives, civil society and women."
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-official-says-government-hold-054918881.html
enhanced_deficit
07-28-2019, 10:17 PM
U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who is currently visiting Kabul, appears to share that position. He tweeted that another round of "intra-Afghan" talks would occur "after we conclude our own agreements." He said it would include the Taliban and "an inclusive and effective national negotiating team consisting of senior government officials, key political party representatives, civil society and women."
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-official-says-government-hold-054918881.html
This could be Trump's path to Nobel Peace prize if he ended longest war in US history before 2020 elections.
Media has been pushing NK angle but wiith new NK rockets launch last week, Nobel Peace Prize path now seems to go through Afghanistan rather than NK.
CNN's Fareed Zakaria believes President Donald Trump is eager to make a deal with North Korea because the President "has decided that this is his path to a Nobel Peace Prize."
Source: CNN (https://www.cnn.com/)
https://archive.org/download/ObamaNobelPeaceLaureate/ObamaNobelPeaceLaureate.gif
Swordsmyth
08-02-2019, 12:21 AM
The Afghan government named a team on Wednesday to negotiate directly with the Taliban, in the expectation that Washington was on the cusp of agreeing to withdraw troops after 18 years of war, meeting the insurgents' precondition for talks with Kabul.The U.S. special representative for Afghanistan peace talks, Zalmay Khalilzad, tweeted that he was on his way to negotiation venue Qatar, ready to close a deal to end the war that began in 2001 after the September 11 attacks on the United States.
"I'm off to Doha, with a stop in Islamabad. In Doha, if the Taliban do their part, we will do ours, and conclude the agreement we have been working on," Khalilzad said.
Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for Taliban's political office in Doha said: "We have completed consultations with our leaders regarding the talks with the U.S, now we are ready and waiting for him (Khalilzad) to restart the talks."
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/u-peace-envoy-afghanistan-set-120155264.html
enhanced_deficit
08-02-2019, 12:29 AM
Army identifies two soldiers killed in Afghanistan
By: Kyle Rempfer 2 days ago
https://www.armytimes.com/resizer/VTx7wGZQXH3VlpYzSVdNb6yhr1A=/1200x0/filters:quality(100)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-mco.s3.amazonaws.com/public/T37AIZLG25GZPMJIGJ2I5MXQBQ.png Both soldiers were members of the 82nd Airborne Division. (Army)
The Army has identified the two U.S. soldiers killed in a reported insider attack Monday.
Pfc. Brandon Jay Kreischer, 20, of Stryker, Ohio, and Spc. Michael Isaiah Nance, 24, of Chicago died in Afghanistan while supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
Both soldiers were members of Company B., 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division when they were killed by small arms fire, division officials said in a release.
The paratroopers died from wounds sustained in a “combat related incident” in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan Province, according to a Pentagon press release.
“These young men were true All Americans and embodied the qualities of selfless service and courage as they answered our nation’s call to deploy to Afghanistan,” said Col. Arthur Sellers, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, in a division statement.
“Our focus is now providing their loved ones with every available resource to help them in this most difficult time," Sellers said.
Afghanistan's security forces lost 42,000 troops in the last year in a crackdown on 'ghost soldiers'
Idrees Ali, Reuters
August 01, 2019 at 07:37 AM
news
Soldiers with 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps wait for the order to move during a military operations on urban terrain (MOUT) exercise at Camp Shorabak
(U.S. Marine Corps/Sgt. Luke Hoogendam)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There has been a sharp drop in the size of Afghanistan's National Defense Security Forces in the past few months due to changes in the way troops are counted and an effort to reduce the number of so-called "ghost" soldiers, a U.S. government watchdog said on Thursday.
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said in a report that ANDSF personnel size had gone down by nearly 10 percentage points in the most recent quarter compared to the previous trimester.
https://taskandpurpose.com/afghan-security-forces-ghost-soldiers-sigar-report
State Department wasted $100M on Afghan camp despite early warnings: Report
By
lee ferran Aug 1, 2019
The U.S. State Department spent over three years and more than $100 million on a project to rebuild a base in Afghanistan that was never rebuilt, even though the department was warned it was a bad idea from the start, according to an incisive new government watchdog report.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/state-department-wasted-100m-afghan-camp-early-warnings/story?id=64683930
Swordsmyth
08-03-2019, 04:49 PM
President Trump has reportedly told advisors that he wishes to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by the 2020 presidential election, according to several officials (https://twitter.com/NewsBreaking/status/1157402678013485057)
Zippyjuan
08-03-2019, 04:57 PM
President Trump has reportedly told advisors that he wishes to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by the 2020 presidential election, according to several officials (https://twitter.com/NewsBreaking/status/1157402678013485057)
He said it would be done by December last year. The flip flopper in chief keeps changing his mind on this one.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/423172-trump-hasnt-ordered-pentagon-to-withdraw-troops-from-afghanistan
Last December, Trump reportedly threatened to pull troops out of Afghanistan and to close the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. The president reportedly argued that without the military, embassy personnel might not be safe.
Military officials, including Gen. Scott Miller, who commands U.S. forces in Afghanistan, have pushed back against the plan to pull out all troops within the next 15 months, officials told NBC. Officials said Miller would consider withdrawing some troops but would want others to remain to fight ISIS or al Qaeda.
A White House spokesman said Friday that President Trump has not yet ordered the Pentagon to pull troops out of Afghanistan, contradicting reports last week that the president has called for the withdrawal of 7,000 troops.
“The president has not made a determination to drawdown U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and he has not directed the Department of Defense to begin the process of withdrawing U.S. personnel from Afghanistan,” Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
Trump has long railed against the 17-year-old war, the longest military conflict in U.S. history.
He campaigned on the promise to end “nation-building” missions such as efforts to train Afghan troops but was persuaded by defense officials and then-national security adviser H.R. McMaster to send 4,000 more troops to the country.
Reports of troops' possible drawdown from Afghanistan came after Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would be withdrawing troops from Syria.
Trump claimed that the U.S. “defeated ISIS in Syria” and called for more than 2,000 U.S. service members fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and backing Syrian Kurdish forces in the mission to return home.
We will be out of Syria "soon" in March 2018. In December he said we would be leaving there in 30 days.
euphemia
08-03-2019, 06:38 PM
Hey, Zippy, did you forget about Congress?
Zippyjuan
08-03-2019, 07:11 PM
Hey, Zippy, did you forget about Congress?
Trump doesn't need Congress for anything. They just get in the way. That is what he says anyways. Just declare an emergency and do whatever you want.
Swordsmyth
08-07-2019, 02:30 AM
The United States and the Taliban have resolved differences in peace talks over the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and guarantees from the insurgents that they will cut ties with other extremist groups, a Taliban official said Tuesday.The U.S. side did not immediately provide details about the latest round of talks held in Qatar, where the Taliban maintain a political office. But Zalmay Khalilzad, the American envoy who has been leading the talks since they began late last year, tweeted that they had made "excellent progress."
The two sides have been meeting for the last two days, and technical teams were continuing discussions on Tuesday in Doha. The Taliban official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss details of the negotiations.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-differences-resolved-us-troop-052337089.html
https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgifimage.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Fron-paul-its-happening-gif-13.gif&f=1
https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reactiongifs.com%2Fr%2Fswih.gi f&f=1
Swordsmyth
08-07-2019, 03:10 AM
The United States and the Taliban have resolved differences in peace talks over the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and guarantees from the insurgents that they will cut ties with other extremist groups, a Taliban official said Tuesday.The U.S. side did not immediately provide details about the latest round of talks held in Qatar, where the Taliban maintain a political office. But Zalmay Khalilzad, the American envoy who has been leading the talks since they began late last year, tweeted that they had made "excellent progress."
The two sides have been meeting for the last two days, and technical teams were continuing discussions on Tuesday in Doha. The Taliban official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss details of the negotiations.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-differences-resolved-us-troop-052337089.html
https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgifimage.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Fron-paul-its-happening-gif-13.gif&f=1
https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reactiongifs.com%2Fr%2Fswih.gi f&f=1
BUMP
Warlord
08-07-2019, 06:00 AM
Trump said it was time to end this 18 year war now it looks likely.
spudea
08-07-2019, 08:06 AM
Still daily bombings, and the Taliban still calling the afhgan government illegitimate. It's past time for them to sink or swim. And if they need help with their security, they pay us.
enhanced_deficit
08-10-2019, 07:01 AM
https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgifimage.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Fron-paul-its-happening-gif-13.gif&f=1
^ This.
https://grrrgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/inauguration-trump-ben-garrison_1_orig.jpg
https://www.jta.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cartoon.jpg
https://grrrgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/founding_father_to_trump.jpg
Afghanistan and Iraq surround Iran, a country that wants to erase our closest ally and only democracy in mideast.
Ending all foreign entanglements and leaving our closest ally in the world alone in a dangerous world could be risky
President Trump Invited a Cartoonist Known for 'Anti-Semitic' Images to a White House Social Media Summit
https://time.com/5621558/trump-cartoonist-anti-semitic-ben-garrison-social-media-summit/
Swordsmyth
08-11-2019, 11:59 PM
An eighth round of talks on a pact that would allow the United States to end its longest war and withdraw its troops from Afghanistan ended on Monday and both sides would consult their leaders on the next steps, the Taliban said.The talks, held in Qatar since late last year between the Taliban and U.S. officials, have brought hopes for an agreement allowing U.S. troops to leave in exchange for a Taliban promise that Afghanistan will not be used by militants as a base from which to plot attacks abroad.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the latest talks, which a U.S. official said earlier involved technical details and the implementation mechanisms of a pact, ended early on Monday.
"It was long and useful, both sides decided to consult with their leaders/seniors for the next steps," Mujahid said in a statement.
U.S. officials were not immediately available for comment but the chief U.S. negotiator, veteran Afghan-American diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, said on Sunday hard work was being done "toward a lasting and honorable peace agreement and a sovereign Afghanistan which poses no threat to any other country".
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/latest-u-taliban-talks-end-032156848.html
Swordsmyth
08-17-2019, 05:18 PM
Just completed a very good meeting on Afghanistan. Many on the opposite side of this 19 year war, and us, are looking to make a deal – if possible!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2019 (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1162498956917706754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Swordsmyth
08-18-2019, 01:31 AM
Afghan Taliban officials said on Saturday the killing of the brother of their leader in a bomb attack would not derail talks with the United States aimed at securing the withdrawal of U.S. troops after 18 years of war.There was no claim of responsibility for the bomb that killed the younger brother of Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada near the Pakistani city of Quetta on Friday.
It came after both Taliban and U.S. officials have reported progress in talks on an agreement centered on a U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in exchange for a Taliban security guarantee.
"If someone thinks martyring our leaders would stop us from our goal they're living in a fool's paradise," a Taliban leader said by telephone from an undisclosed location.
"We are close to our goals,” he said, referring to the talks with the United States. He declined to be identified.
The bomb at the mosque near Quetta killed four people, and wounded 20, Pakistani police said.
The Taliban leader's brother, Hafiz Ahmadullah, was leading prayers when it exploded. One of the leader's sons was wounded, Taliban officials said.
Pakistani police confirmed that one of the dead was identified as Hafiz Ahmadullah but said they could not confirm if he was a brother of the Taliban leader. Pakistan denies accusations that it supports the Taliban but many members live there.
In the Afghan capital, Kabul, a suicide bomber attacked a Saturday night wedding reception. An interior ministry spokesman said there were tens of casualties, both wounded and dead.
There was no claim of responsibility.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-killing-leaders-brother-not-125556157.html
enhanced_deficit
08-18-2019, 01:40 PM
Deadliest attack of the year in Kabul that killed 63 bodes poorly for US-Taliban deal, ISIS claims responsibility (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?538204-Deadliest-attack-of-the-year-in-Kabul-kills-63-bodes-poorly-for-US-Taliban-deal-ISIS-claims&)
Just completed a very good meeting on Afghanistan. Many on the opposite side of this 19 year war, and us, are looking to make a deal – if possible!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2019
EM.
Since he frequently contradicts himself his statements can't be trusted at all, you have to watch his actions to even guess about his positions or plans.
Bold, words that you can take to the bank.
Related
Urge your representatives to Get US Out of neocons' Foreign Interventions and WARS (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?529101-Urge-your-representatives-to-Get-US-Out-of-neocons-Foreign-Interventions-and-WARS&)
Possible that 'Founding Fathers of ISIS' are trying to undermine US exit from Afghanistan? (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?538191-2019-ISIS-Rebirth-Who-is-the-founding-father-of-ISIS-in-Afghanistan&)
(http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/10/01/the-war-in-afghanistan-cost-of-33000-per-citizen-and-will-not-end-well/)The war in Afghanistan has so far cost $33,000 per citizen (http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/10/01/the-war-in-afghanistan-cost-of-33000-per-citizen-and-will-not-end-well/)
https://storage.googleapis.com/afs-prod/media/4f04c4885d5b449fa0466f7d6ffd4136/1000.jpeg
THEY'RE BACK! ISIS claims bombing at Kabul wedding that killed 63... (https://apnews.com/b5ceb0cfb33d4d73aaaadf5eee19fe9d)
End the war in Afghanistan in 2014
"President Obama responsibly ended the war in Iraq and will end the war in Afghanistan in 2014."
Sources: BarackObama.com
Swordsmyth
08-21-2019, 11:01 PM
Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, is traveling to Qatar to resume peace talks with the Taliban and will later visit Kabul for consultations with the Afghan government, the U.S. State Department said Aug. 20.
Khalilzad's return indicates the U.S. willingness to sign a deal with the Taliban to end the war in Afghanistan. The envoy indicated that he intends for an agreement to be completed before Afghanistan's presidential elections, currently scheduled for Sept. 28.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-us-envoy-returns-start-next-round-talks-taliban
Swordsmyth
08-28-2019, 01:20 AM
US and Taliban negotiators held productive talks Tuesday, the insurgent group said, as potentially decisive discussions to enable Washington to draw down its deployment to Afghanistan entered their fifth day.
"We have progress in this round so we are finalising the remaining points," Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told journalists outside the up-market Doha members' club where the talks are taking place.
He said a deal could be expected "as soon as the remaining points are finalised."
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/deal-nears-talks-us-taliban-165942884.html
Swordsmyth
08-29-2019, 01:47 AM
A peace accord to end America's 18-year-war in Afghanistan is close to completion the Taliban said, with a rough draft being proof read and translated before its is signed off.
Donald Trump's chief negotiator, Zalmay Khalilzad, will leave officials to complete final details in Doha, and fly to Kabul to brief the Afghan government. He is then expected to head to Brussels to brief Nato allies before any deal is signed and announced, sources familiar with negotiations said.
"We hope to have good news soon for our Muslim, independence seeking nation," said Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Doha.
Details of the accord will not be announced until it is complete, but sources briefed on the talks said it is expected to see America withdraw troops over around 15 months, but only if security conditions on the ground are met.
The Taliban will give guarantees Afghan soil will not become a launchpad for attacks by transnational terrorist groups, though it is unclear how that will be verified. They will also begin talks with Afghan leaders to discuss a wider political settlement.
The talks have failed to agree on a broad ceasefire however (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/17/final-victory-america-can-bring-peace-taliban-footsoldiers/) or whether America will keep a permanent counter-terrorism force in the country to continue targeting Islamic State group and al-Qaeda. Both issues had been “kicked down the road to later talks”.
Talks between the Taliban and Afghan politicians could now begin quickly and international officials are already beginning preparations for a meeting in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/us-taliban-deal-rough-draft-202351235.html
shakey1
08-29-2019, 07:35 AM
It seems quite a tall order... hopefully they can make it happen.
CCTelander
08-29-2019, 09:19 AM
https://www.corescore.net/assets/images/upload/6357415842098584321498248566_Charlie_Brown_Kicks_I t.jpg
Swordsmyth
08-29-2019, 03:42 PM
https://www.corescore.net/assets/images/upload/6357415842098584321498248566_Charlie_Brown_Kicks_I t.jpg
Yes, Trump is pulling your "warmonger" football out from in front of you.
CCTelander
08-29-2019, 04:24 PM
Yes, Trump is pulling your "warmonger" football out from in front of you.
LOL!
In 12 years here I have never expressed a single sentiment that could be construed in ANY way as pro-war. EVER. But thanks for once again demonstrating the depths of mendacity you're willing to descend to. As always, an instructive experience.
Swordsmyth
08-29-2019, 04:28 PM
LOL!
In 12 years here I have never expressed a single sentiment that could be construed in ANY way as pro-war. EVER. But thanks for once again demonstrating the depths of mendacity you're willing to descend to. As always, an instructive experience.
You misunderstand, you want to call him a warmonger but you won't get to.
Stratovarious
08-29-2019, 04:30 PM
We have never been at war with Afghanistan.
Since WWII , we have just slaughtered and occupied, no wars.
CCTelander
08-29-2019, 04:34 PM
You misunderstand, you want to call him a warmonger but you won't get to.
My mistake then. Apologies. But I didn't call him a warmonger. I merely pointed out that he's been announcing a withdrawal from Afghanistan for quite some time now, and the "withdrawal" football has always gotten yanked out from in front of us in the past. Every time, so far.
Swordsmyth
08-29-2019, 04:34 PM
We have never been at war with Afghanistan.
Since WWII , we have just slaughtered and occupied, no wars.
We have always been at war with Afghanistan.;)
Stratovarious
08-29-2019, 04:40 PM
We have always been at war with Afghanistan.;)
But, I would vote that the Nobel go to Trump if he we're to bring the troops home, Obama
was nowhere near deserving of it, Trump would be.
Swordsmyth
08-29-2019, 09:20 PM
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's main challenger in a election next month has said he is ready to abandon his bid for power for the sake of peace, raising more questions about prospects for an election the Taliban have vowed to block.The twice-delayed presidential election comes as the United States and the Taliban are trying to seal an agreement under which U.S. forces will withdraw in exchange for a Taliban security guarantee and a promise of power-sharing talks with Ghani's government.
The Taliban have denounced the election as a sham and vowed to attack rallies. Ghani is insisting an election he looks set to win should go ahead.
Ghani's main challenger, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, told a campaign rally on Wednesday he would drop out of the race if that could help secure peace.
"My team is ready to quit elections for the sake of peace," Abdullah said, according to his office.
The Taliban want the election canceled as a condition for so-called intra-Afghan dialogue - talks after the agreement with the United States is struck on how power can be shared and the country organized - and a ceasefire.
Abdullah, a former foreign minister, was Ghani's main challenger in the last election, in 2014.
That vote was marred by extensive fraud and Ghani became president after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry brokered a deal creating the post of chief executive for Abdullah.
Ghani has rejected a suggestion put forward by Western allies to postpone the election and form an interim government, perhaps with Taliban representative, after the militants strike their deal with the United States.
Ghani has said the people must be allowed to choose their leader and peace can only be secured under a democratic system.
But the departure of his main challenger could undermine the legitimacy of the election.
This month, another main contender, Hanif Atmar, a former interior minister who also served as Ghani's national security adviser, suspended his campaign, citing the level of violence in the country.
The campaign opened in July with an insurgent attack on the Kabul office of Ghani's running mate, Amrullah Saleh. At least 20 people were killed and 50 wounded.
"With Atmar out of the race and Abdullah now giving preference to the peace deal instead of elections, it is quite clear that Ghani will have to realign his stance," said a Western diplomat in Kabul.
Opposition party sources said many of the 17 candidates in the race were considering a boycott because they believed Ghani was using state apparatus to help him win.
With both the Taliban and U.S. negotiators reporting progress in their talks in recent weeks, and raising the prospect of an end to the 18-year war, the election has yet to capture much attention from the public.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/top-challenger-afghan-president-says-085539029.html
Warlord
08-31-2019, 04:52 AM
Bolton sidelined from Afghanistan policy as his standing with Trump falters
As the president’s top aides prepared for a high-stakes meeting on the future of Afghanistan earlier this month, one senior official was not on the original invite list: national security adviser John Bolton.
The attendance of the top security aide would normally be critical, but the omission was no mistake, senior U.S. officials said. Bolton, who has long advocated an expansive military presence around the world, has become a staunch internal foe of an emerging peace deal aimed at ending America’s longest war, the officials said.
His opposition to the diplomatic effort in Afghanistan has irritated President Trump, these officials said, and led aides to leave the National Security Council out of sensitive discussions about the agreement.
The sidelining of Bolton has raised questions about his influence in an administration that is seeking a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, as well as an ambitious nuclear deal with North Korea and potential engagement with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Bolton, U.S. officials said, stands in opposition to those efforts, but he does so increasingly from the periphery.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/bolton-sidelined-from-afghanistan-policy-as-his-standing-with-trump-falters/2019/08/30/79651256-8888-483b-9fd1-c47a2cfadab7_story.html
Swordsmyth
08-31-2019, 04:04 PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/bolton-sidelined-from-afghanistan-policy-as-his-standing-with-trump-falters/2019/08/30/79651256-8888-483b-9fd1-c47a2cfadab7_story.html
Time to fire him.
Swordsmyth
09-02-2019, 02:29 PM
America has agreed in principle to withdraw 5,000 troops from five military bases in 20 weeks, in a deal with the Taliban to kick start talks with the Afghan government.
The accord which could be announced as early as Wednesday would see US troops begin to pull back from their longest ever conflict, in return for a reduction in Taliban attacks and the start of formal negotiations with Ashraf Ghani's government.
After the first tranche of 5,000 of America's 14,000-odd troops had left, the rest would gradually leave the country over 15 months or more. If the Taliban failed to meet the conditions then America would “stop the clock” on the withdrawal however.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/us-start-afghan-withdrawal-5-175551050.html
enhanced_deficit
09-03-2019, 11:21 PM
America has agreed in principle to withdraw 5,000 troops from five military bases in 20 weeks, in a deal with the Taliban to kick start talks with the Afghan government.
The accord which could be announced as early as Wednesday would see US troops begin to pull back from their longest ever conflict, in return for a reduction in Taliban attacks and the start of formal negotiations with Ashraf Ghani's government.
After the first tranche of 5,000 of America's 14,000-odd troops had left, the rest would gradually leave the country over 15 months or more. If the Taliban failed to meet the conditions then America would “stop the clock” on the withdrawal however.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/us-start-afghan-withdrawal-5-175551050.html
NYT is reporting a major bombing targetting fortified foreigners compound right after announcement of 'peace agreement':
After Bombing, Afghans Demand That Foreigners Leave Their Neighborhood
Firefighters and city workers on Tuesday near a crater left by a car bomb outside Green Village, a fortified compound in Kabul.
Credit Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times
By David Zucchino and Fatima Faizi
Sept. 3, 2019
KABUL, Afghanistan — Samsor Dawlatzai, a part-time laborer, settled in after dinner Monday night to watch a television interview with the American peace envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad.
The envoy had just mentioned reaching a peace agreement “in principle” with the Taliban when Mr. Dawlatzai’s house collapsed on top of him, his family and his guests. A suicide truck bombing nearby left eight people in the house bloodied and battered, among them a 1-year-old boy, five women and a guest lacerated by flying glass as he prayed.
“What peace are you talking about?” Mr. Dawlatzai asked Tuesday, referring to Mr. Khalilzad.
Mr. Dawlatzai, 23, had the misfortune of living near Green Village, a fortified compound of foreign nationals that had been rocked by bombings in the past. The latest attack, on Monday night, destroyed or badly damaged dozens of nearby shops and homes, killing up to 30 people and wounding at least 100, security officials said. There was no immediate word on any casualties among residents of the compound.
It was the third time Mr. Dawlatzai’s home has been torn apart by a bombing aimed at Green Village, he said. He and his neighbors had had enough.
On Tuesday morning, hundreds of enraged residents surged through the streets, demanding that the foreigners in their midst vacate their neighborhood. Some protesters scaled a wall surrounding Green Village, setting fire to a guard tower and torching rows of armored SUVs in the compound’s parking area.
Orange flames shot up and plumes of black smoke twisted skyward. Some protesters burned tires, tossed flaming bottles of gasoline or threw rocks into the compound.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for Monday’s bombing, while also reaping the propaganda benefits of irate Afghans cursing and condemning foreigners. Even as the prospects for a peace deal improve, the Taliban have launched repeated attacks that kill and maim civilians — and underscore the Afghan government’s inability to protect its citizens.
A statement from the Taliban on Tuesday said the bombing was retaliation for attacks by American-backed government forces. It depicted the Taliban as protectors of Afghan civilians in the face of government and American “attacks on peoples’ villages and homes.”
“Those who criticize us for attacking Green Village must understand that there is a reaction to any action,” the statement said.
The latest attack on Green Village, which houses private security companies and contractors for nongovernmental organizations, left residents soured on a peace process some have never fully embraced. Many blamed the government.
“We’ve complained time and again to get this damn camp out of here because in each attack we suffer the most,” said Atiqullah, 30, whose forehead bore 20 stitches from lacerations inflicted when his home caved in.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/world/asia/kabul-bombing-afghanistan.html
Related
Donald Trump's Afghanistan Peace Process 'Is Called Losing,' Fox News Analyst Says: 'We Completely Abandoned That Situation' (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?538804-Right-after-peace-agreement-bomb-targetting-foreigners-compound-in-Kabul-kills-wounds-130&p=6855941&viewfull=1#post6855941)
9/2/19
Swordsmyth
09-03-2019, 11:25 PM
NYT is reporting a major bombing targetting fortified foreigners compound right after announcement of 'peace agreement':
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/world/asia/kabul-bombing-afghanistan.html
Related
Donald Trump's Afghanistan Peace Process 'Is Called Losing,' Fox News Analyst Says: 'We Completely Abandoned That Situation' (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?538804-Right-after-peace-agreement-bomb-targetting-foreigners-compound-in-Kabul-kills-wounds-130&p=6855941&viewfull=1#post6855941)
9/2/19
We lost when we decided to stay.
Nothing can stop the withdrawal.
enhanced_deficit
09-04-2019, 11:52 PM
Nothing can stop the withdrawal.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/images/icons/icon14.png Secretary of State Pompeo Declines to Sign Afghan Peace Deal (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?538840-Secretary-of-State-Pompeo-Declines-to-Sign-Afghan-Peace-Deal&)
Swordsmyth
09-05-2019, 12:01 AM
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/images/icons/icon14.png Secretary of State Pompeo Declines to Sign Afghan Peace Deal (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?538840-Secretary-of-State-Pompeo-Declines-to-Sign-Afghan-Peace-Deal&)
Trump will sign it.
Nothing can stop the withdrawal.
Warlord
09-05-2019, 08:02 AM
Another dead soldier in this sh*thole:
US service member killed in Kabul suicide car bomb attack
Washington (CNN)A US service member was killed in a suicide car bomb attack Thursday in Kabul, Afghanistan, at a checkpoint near NATO headquarters and the US embassy, a US military official with direct knowledge of the incident said.
Another service member from Romania also was killed, the NATO-led coalition announced in a statement.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/05/politics/afghanistan-us-service-member/index.html
shakey1
09-05-2019, 08:08 AM
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/images/icons/icon14.png Secretary of State Pompeo Declines to Sign Afghan Peace Deal (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?538840-Secretary-of-State-Pompeo-Declines-to-Sign-Afghan-Peace-Deal&)
He’s deep state... why does Trump insist on appointing these clowns?
Warlord
09-05-2019, 08:19 AM
He’s deep state... why does Trump insist on appointing these clowns?
Pompeo and Bolton are holding up the deal while more soldiers die, It's a disgrace.
Occam's Banana
09-05-2019, 08:40 AM
Pompeo and Bolton are holding up the deal while more soldiers die, It's a disgrace.
The buck for that stops with Trump. He appointed them.
Warlord
09-05-2019, 09:00 AM
The buck for that stops with Trump. He appointed them.
They must be fired ASAP. I dont know what Trump is thinking. The neocons will destroy him and its electoral suicide. The people want peace.
Swordsmyth
09-07-2019, 08:25 PM
On Friday U.S. envoy Khalilzad was back in the Qatari capital Doha, along with General Scott Miller, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, to continue talks with the Taliban, who said the meeting had gone well.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-chief-says-u-working-090305340.html
enhanced_deficit
09-07-2019, 11:25 PM
Two NATO soldiers killed, 9 U.S. Special Forces soldiers evacuated with traumatic brain injuries
Army Paratrooper Killed in Afghanistan Identified
By Matt Keeley On 9/6/19
Sgt. Barreto was killed when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) detonated on September 5 in a suicide attack. The attack also claimed the life of a Romanian soldier.
That attack led to another blast targeting the U.S. forces who responded to the initial explosion. This attack wounded at least nine U.S. Special Forces soldiers, some seriously. An anonymous Defense Department source told Newsweek that the nine soldiers had been medically evacuated with traumatic brain injuries.
https://www.newsweek.com/army-paratrooper-killed-afghanistan-suicide-attack-identified-1458163
Related
Double tap drone strikes (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?392118-Double-tap-drone-strikes&)
enhanced_deficit
09-07-2019, 11:45 PM
Trump Says He’s Called Off Negotiations With Taliban After Afghanistan Bombing
By Michael Crowley, Lara Jakes and Mujib Mashal
Sept. 7, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump said on Saturday that he had canceled a secret meeting at Camp David with Taliban leaders and the president of Afghanistan and was calling off monthslong negotiations that had appeared to be nearing a peace agreement.
“Unbeknownst to almost everyone,” Mr. Trump wrote in a series of tweets (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1170469619154530305), Taliban leaders and the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, were headed to the United States on Saturday for what would have been a politically fraught meeting at the president’s official Camp David retreat in Maryland.
But Mr. Trump said that “in order to build false leverage,” the Taliban had admitted to a suicide car bomb attack on Thursday that had killed an American soldier and 11 others in the capital of Kabul. “I immediately cancelled the meeting and called off peace negotiations,” he wrote.
“If they cannot agree to a ceasefire during these very important peace talks, and would even kill 12 innocent people, then they probably don’t have the power to negotiate a meaningful agreement anyway,” Mr. Trump added. “How many more decades are they willing to fight?”
The president’s announcement was startling for multiple reasons. A surprise summit at Camp David with leaders of an insurgent group that has killed thousands of Americans since the October 2001 invasion of Afghanistan would have been a sensational diplomatic gambit, on par with Mr. Trump’s meetings with the once-reclusive North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. A senior administration official said the meeting had been planned for Monday, just two days before the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which were plotted from Afghanistan and led to the United States’ invasion of the country.
Mr. Trump’s statement also appears to scuttle — for now — his longstanding hope to deliver on a campaign promise to withdraw American troops from an 18-year conflict that he has called an aimless boondoggle.
Several people familiar with the diplomacy between the Trump administration and the Taliban puzzled over Mr. Trump’s stated decision to cancel peace negotiations entirely in response to one American casualty, however tragic. The Taliban had not agreed to halt their attacks on Americans in advance of a formal agreement. That raised the question of whether Mr. Trump might have been looking for a pretext because the talks had run into trouble.
The development is sure to inflame a Washington political debate about the talks that until now had largely played out in national security circles to little public fanfare. Mr. Trump had been coming under growing pressure from conservatives not to hastily exit the country while many leading Democrats have said they support peace talks leading to an American withdrawal.
Many details of the scrapped Camp David meeting were unclear on Saturday night. The senior Trump administration official said that the decision to cancel the meeting had been made on Thursday, but that Mr. Trump had delayed his announcement. On Friday, Afghan officials confirmed that Mr. Ghani postponed a planned meeting in Washington. One person familiar with the diplomacy said that the plan for a Taliban visit to Washington had not been under discussion until about a week ago. (Taliban representatives have not yet confirmed that they ever planned to attend such a meeting.)
Mr. Khalilzad had proposed drawing down American military troops in exchange for a partial cease-fire by the Taliban. In a recent interview with the Afghan channel ToloNews, he said 5,400 United States forces (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/02/world/asia/us-withdrawal-afghanistan-taliban.html?module=inline) would leave Afghanistan within 135 days of a signed agreement.
Under that tentative deal, the number of American troops would have initially been reduced to about what it was when Mr. Trump took office in 2017.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/07/us/politics/trump-taliban-afghanistan.html
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/EE6F/production/_108593016_3472cd86-354d-469e-962a-176fafc36fbd.jpg
https://d.newsweek.com/en/full/1525830/afghanistan-explosion.jpg
A tractor packed with explosives caused a massive blast in Kabul on September 3. Two days later, a similar attack in the city killed Sgt. Barreto and a Romanian soldier.
https://www.newsweek.com/army-paratrooper-killed-afghanistan-suicide-attack-identified-1458163
Swordsmyth
09-07-2019, 11:48 PM
Trump Says He’s Called Off Negotiations With Taliban After Afghanistan Bombing
By Michael Crowley, Lara Jakes and Mujib Mashal
Sept. 7, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump said on Saturday that he had canceled a secret meeting at Camp David with Taliban leaders and the president of Afghanistan and was calling off monthslong negotiations that had appeared to be nearing a peace agreement.
“Unbeknownst to almost everyone,” Mr. Trump wrote in a series of tweets (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1170469619154530305), Taliban leaders and the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, were headed to the United States on Saturday for what would have been a politically fraught meeting at the president’s official Camp David retreat in Maryland.
But Mr. Trump said that “in order to build false leverage,” the Taliban had admitted to a suicide car bomb attack on Thursday that had killed an American soldier and 11 others in the capital of Kabul. “I immediately cancelled the meeting and called off peace negotiations,” he wrote.
“If they cannot agree to a ceasefire during these very important peace talks, and would even kill 12 innocent people, then they probably don’t have the power to negotiate a meaningful agreement anyway,” Mr. Trump added. “How many more decades are they willing to fight?”
The president’s announcement was startling for multiple reasons. A surprise summit at Camp David with leaders of an insurgent group that has killed thousands of Americans since the October 2001 invasion of Afghanistan would have been a sensational diplomatic gambit, on par with Mr. Trump’s meetings with the once-reclusive North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. A senior administration official said the meeting had been planned for Monday, just two days before the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which were plotted from Afghanistan and led to the United States’ invasion of the country.
Mr. Trump’s statement also appears to scuttle — for now — his longstanding hope to deliver on a campaign promise to withdraw American troops from an 18-year conflict that he has called an aimless boondoggle.
Several people familiar with the diplomacy between the Trump administration and the Taliban puzzled over Mr. Trump’s stated decision to cancel peace negotiations entirely in response to one American casualty, however tragic. The Taliban had not agreed to halt their attacks on Americans in advance of a formal agreement. That raised the question of whether Mr. Trump might have been looking for a pretext because the talks had run into trouble.
The development is sure to inflame a Washington political debate about the talks that until now had largely played out in national security circles to little public fanfare. Mr. Trump had been coming under growing pressure from conservatives not to hastily exit the country while many leading Democrats have said they support peace talks leading to an American withdrawal.
Many details of the scrapped Camp David meeting were unclear on Saturday night. The senior Trump administration official said that the decision to cancel the meeting had been made on Thursday, but that Mr. Trump had delayed his announcement. On Friday, Afghan officials confirmed that Mr. Ghani postponed a planned meeting in Washington. One person familiar with the diplomacy said that the plan for a Taliban visit to Washington had not been under discussion until about a week ago. (Taliban representatives have not yet confirmed that they ever planned to attend such a meeting.)
Mr. Khalilzad had proposed drawing down American military troops in exchange for a partial cease-fire by the Taliban. In a recent interview with the Afghan channel ToloNews, he said 5,400 United States forces (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/02/world/asia/us-withdrawal-afghanistan-taliban.html?module=inline) would leave Afghanistan within 135 days of a signed agreement.
Under that tentative deal, the number of American troops would have initially been reduced to about what it was when Mr. Trump took office in 2017.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/07/us/politics/trump-taliban-afghanistan.html
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/EE6F/production/_108593016_3472cd86-354d-469e-962a-176fafc36fbd.jpg
https://d.newsweek.com/en/full/1525830/afghanistan-explosion.jpg
A tractor packed with explosives caused a massive blast in Kabul on September 3. Two days later, a similar attack in the city killed Sgt. Barreto and a Romanian soldier.
https://www.newsweek.com/army-paratrooper-killed-afghanistan-suicide-attack-identified-1458163
Cancelling one meeting doesn't cancel the whole deal.
enhanced_deficit
09-07-2019, 11:57 PM
Cancelling one meeting doesn't cancel the whole deal.
That is true, but following is POTUS statement:
“I immediately canceled the meeting and called off peace negotiations,” Trump added.
Hopefully that's not the case but this reporting suggests it's more than just cancellation of a meeting.
NYT reporting seems to be trying to score extra political mileage also by linking it to NK Peace Summit deal that had also come to an abrupt end:
The president’s announcement was startling for multiple reasons. A surprise summit at Camp David with leaders of an insurgent group that has killed thousands of Americans since the October 2001 invasion of Afghanistan would have been a sensational diplomatic gambit, on par with Mr. Trump’s meetings with the once-reclusive North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un
Swordsmyth
09-08-2019, 12:03 AM
That is true, but following is POTUS statement:
“I immediately canceled the meeting and called off peace negotiations,” Trump added.
Hopefully that's not the case but this reporting suggests it's more than just cancellation of a meeting.
NYT reporting seems to be trying to score extra political mileage also by linking it to NK Peace Summit deal that had also come to an abrupt end:
Trump won't call them off permanently unless he is just going to unilaterally withdraw, we are going to leave whether he gets a deal or not.
CCTelander
09-08-2019, 12:25 AM
Trump won't call them off permanently unless he is just going to unilaterally withdraw, we are going to leave whether he gets a deal or not.
Riiiiigghht. If there's anybody one should put such an inordinate level of faith in it's a politician, especially one who has aggressively sought and secured the most powerful political office on the face of the planet. What are you, mental?
Swordsmyth
09-08-2019, 12:30 AM
Riiiiigghht. If there's anybody one should put such an inordinate level of faith in it's a politician, especially one who has aggressively sought and secured the most powerful political office on the face of the planet. What are you, mental?
Trump needs to be able to say he fulfilled his promise to get us out before Nov. 2020.
Swordsmyth
09-08-2019, 09:08 PM
The United States and Afghanistan's Taliban on Sunday both left the door open to fresh talks after President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a secret summit, but the insurgents threatened to inflict greater costs.Washington also said it would not relent in fighting the militants after Trump blamed the scuttling of the unprecedented meeting on a Taliban attack that killed a US soldier.
Trump said he had invited Taliban leaders and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for talks Sunday at the Camp David presidential retreat on a draft deal that would see the United States withdraw thousands of troops and wind down its longest-ever war.
In a series of television interviews, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not rule out a return to talks but said the United States needed a "significant commitment" from the Taliban.
"I'm not pessimistic," Pompeo told NBC. "I've watched the Taliban do things and say things they've not been permitted to do before."
"I hope it's the case the Taliban will change their behavior, will recommit to the things that we've been talking to them about for months," he said on ABC.
"In the end, this will be resolved through a series of conversations," he added, urging the Taliban to drop their long-running refusal to negotiate with Ghani's internationally recognized government.
He said that Trump had not decided whether to go ahead with a withdrawal, which under the draft deal would pull 5,000 of the roughly 13,000 US troops from Afghanistan next year.
But Pompeo warned that the United States was "not going to reduce the pressure" on the Taliban, saying US forces had killed more than 1,000 insurgents in the past 10 days alone.
Veteran US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad had spent a year meeting with the Taliban, who said that Trump showed "neither experience nor patience."
"Americans will be harmed more than any other" by Trump's decision, warned a statement by the group's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
But he added that the Taliban still believed "that the American side will come back to this position" of talks that seek "the complete end of the occupation."
The office of Ghani, whose government is rejected by the Taliban as illegitimate, cautiously saluted the "sincere efforts of its allies" after Trump called off the summit.
The Afghan presidency in a statement also 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."
Islamabad, meanwhile, urged both sides to "re-engage to find (a) negotiated peace from the ongoing political settlement process."
"Pakistan looks for optimized engagement following (the) earliest resumption of talks," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/us-taliban-keep-open-door-talks-summit-scrapped-152405240.html
enhanced_deficit
09-17-2019, 11:27 PM
Afghan president unhurt as election rally/Kabul bombings kill 48 including 10 security forces (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?539297-Afghan-president-unhurt-as-election-rally-Kabul-bombings-kill-48-including-10-security-forces&)Blast kills 26 at Afghan election rally, aide says president unhurt
Sept. 17, 2019, 5:33 AM EDT
By Ahmed Mengli, Mushtaq Yusufzai, Saphora Smith and Reuters
KABUL — An explosion near an election rally attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani killed 26 people — including 4 security forces —and injured 42 others, local officials said, but Ghani was unhurt according to an aide.
Women and children were among the victims in the suicide attack in Parwan province, according to Nasrat Rahimi, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior who said at least 26 people were killed.
Ghani had been due to address the rally in Charikar, capital of Parwan province, north of Kabul, when the suspected militant attack occurred, a health official told Reuters.
"The president is unharmed," Ghani's aide told Reuters.
In a separate incident, a suicide bomber killed 22 people and injured 38 in the center of Kabul, Rahimi said. Six of the victims were military personnel, he added.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/b...nhurt-n1055191 (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/blast-kills-24-afghan-election-rally-aide-says-president-unhurt-n1055191)
Published 11 hours ago
US Army Green Beret killed in Afghanistan gun battle identified: 'He was a warrior'
Griffin first deployed to war with the 82nd Airborne to Iraq in 2006 before joining Special Forces in 2014. He was born in Cristobal, Panama on December 7, 1978.
https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2019/09/640/320/green-beret.jpg?ve=1&tl=1
Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Griffin from Greenbrier, Tennessee, a Special Forces soldier was 41 and making his fourth combat deployment, three to Afghanistan since 2009, according to Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, U.S. Army Special Operations Command spokesman.
Sgt. 1st Class Griffin was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
Griffin is the 17th American killed this year (https://www.foxnews.com/us/american-service-member-killed-in-afghanistam) in combat in Afghanistan. It’s the highest total in the past five years.
Today, there are roughly 14,000 U.S. troops on the ground in Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, President Trump announced he had canceled secret peace talks with top Afghan and Taliban officials at Camp David.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/army-g...tan-identified (https://www.foxnews.com/world/army-green-beret-killed-afghanistan-identified)
enhanced_deficit
09-18-2019, 05:12 PM
Trump says peace talks with Taliban are now ‘dead’
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. peace talks with the Taliban are now “dead,” President Donald Trump declared Monday, two days after he abruptly canceled a secret meeting he had arranged with Taliban and Afghan leaders aimed at ending America’s longest war.
Trump’s remark to reporters at the White House suggested he sees no point in resuming a nearly yearlong effort to reach a political settlement with the Taliban, whose protection of al-Qaida extremists in Afghanistan prompted the U.S. to invade after the 9/11 attacks.
Asked about the peace talks, Trump said: “They’re dead. They’re dead. As far as I’m concerned, they’re dead.”
https://www.apnews.com/bf2b42d5e86d466ab5f434d0f646bc72
Trump picks another neocon as new NSA to replace Bolton (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?539329-Trump-Just-Hired-the-Guy-He-Sent-to-Free-A-AP-Rocky-as-His-New-National-Security-Adviser&p=6862525&viewfull=1#post6862525)
https://media4.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2019_38/3015251/190918-robert-obrien-cs-927a_e759a51f147731de90784057d1d94a98.fit-760w.jpg
an hour ago
The special envoy, Ambassador Robert O’Brien, was seen at Stockholm District Court in the morning. A biographical statement on the State Department’s website says O’Brien “leads the U.S. government’s diplomatic efforts on overseas hostage-related matters.”
Related
Blackwater: 'Don't Let Erik Prince Anywhere Near The War In Afghanistan' (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?539349-Blackwater-Don-t-Let-Erik-Prince-Anywhere-Near-The-War-In-Afghanistan&)
enhanced_deficit
09-19-2019, 12:45 PM
Anyone happens to have link to old Trump tweet where he had called then Prez Obama "stupid" for announcing Afghan exit plans in advance?
Meahwhile this administration continues to drone strike more "collateral damage".
U.S. drone strike kills 30 pine nut farm workers in Afghanistan
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-attack-drones/u-s-U.S. drone strike kills 30 pine nut farm workers in Afghanistan
enhanced_deficit
09-23-2019, 10:12 AM
Meahwhile this administration continues to drone strike more "collateral damage".
U.S. drone strike kills 30 pine nut farm workers in Afghanistan
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-attack-drones/u-s-U.S. drone strike kills 30 pine nut farm workers in Afghanistan
Another day of similar news:
Afghan officials: 40 civilians killed in anti-Taliban raid (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?539367-50-Afghan-civilians-dead-30-killed-after-US-drone-accidentally-bombed-farmers&p=6864118&viewfull=1#post6864118)
By RAHIM FAIEZ an hour ago
Afghans transport the body of a woman who was killed during a raid conducted by Afghan special forces, in the southern Helmand province, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019. An Afghan official said Monday that at least 40 civilians have been killed during an Afghan special forces raid and airstrikes conducted against of Taliban in southern Helmand province. (AP Photo/Abdul Hadi)
enhanced_deficit
10-02-2019, 07:50 PM
'draft' is called draft for a reason, should have been finalized at the same time.
Now they have shredded the draft paper on which 'draft deal' was nade.
Now Dems starting impeachment drama in the middle of these non-negotiations would probably not matter.
Swordsmyth
10-02-2019, 08:49 PM
A Taliban delegation and U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad have arrived in Islamabad in an effort to revive peace talks between the militant group and Washington, Dawn reported Oct. 2.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/pakistan-afghanistan-us-taliban-us-envoy-head-islamabad-afghan-peace-talks
Swordsmyth
10-04-2019, 07:30 PM
A Taliban delegation met U.S. special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad for more than an hour on Thursday, two sources told Reuters, the first known contact between the sides since U.S. President Donald Trump called off talks last month.
Two Taliban sources confirmed they viewed themselves as committed to the agreements reached in Doha and were disappointed when Trump pulled out of talks.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Taliban leader in Afghanistan said the delegation's visit to Pakistan was intended to revive negotiations to end the 18-year war.
A Pakistan government source said that Pakistan would do "whatever possible" to get stakeholders, including Russia and China, to meet and work on guarantees of any successful peace arrangement.
"The Taliban want all stakeholders like America, Russia, China...to sit together and give some guarantees that any deal done and signed wouldn't be backed out before they resume the negotiations,” he said, adding that Pakistan's government was also trying to ensure the Afghan government was included.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/1-taliban-delegation-met-u-073325191.html
Swordsmyth
10-06-2019, 07:42 PM
BREAKING: Taliban officials have met in Pakistan with the top American diplomat who recently led peace negotiations with them – NYT
— News Breaking LIVE (@NewsBreaking) October 6, 2019 (https://twitter.com/NewsBreaking/status/1180680452207591424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Swordsmyth
10-07-2019, 06:11 PM
Hopes are rising for the resumption of the abandoned Taliban and US peace talks after eleven senior Taliban members were freed from prison in an exchange with three kidnapped Indian engineers.
Among those freed are two former provincial governors of the Taliban and Abdul Rashid Baluch, a notorious regional leader sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for trafficking opium.
The men were being held near Bagram air base outside Kabul.
It is believed American authorities must have given permission for the swap as Baluch was previously on their ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ list.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-commanders-released-hopes-rise-183435755.html
enhanced_deficit
10-07-2019, 06:26 PM
Anger grows at civilian deaths by US, Afghan forces
By: Kathy Gannon, The Associated Press 6 hours ago
In this Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, photo, Aziz Rahman, second, right, a village elder, who had contracted the farmers to harvest the pine nuts, speaks during an interview to the Associated Press in Jalalabad city east of Kabul, Afghanistan. (Rahmat Gul/AP)
JALALABAD, Afghanistan — The workers were sleeping on the mountainside where they had spent a long day harvesting pine nuts in eastern Afghanistan. Some were in tents, others lay outside under the stars, when the U.S. airstrike tore into them.
Only hours before the Sept. 19 strike, the businessman who hired them had heard there was a drone over the mountain and called Afghanistan’s intelligence agency to remind an official his workers were there — as he’d notified the agency days earlier.
“He laughed and said, ‘Don’t worry they are not going to bomb you,’” the businessman, Aziz Rahman, recalled.
Twenty workers were killed in the strike, including seven members of one family. A relative, Mohammed Hasan, angrily described body parts they found scattered on the ground, gesturing at his arm, his leg, his head.
“This is not their (Americans') first mistake,” said Hasan. “They say ‘sorry’. What are we supposed to do with ‘sorry?’ ... People now are angry. They are so angry with the foreigners, with this government.”
More civilians have died by Afghan forces, allies than by militants in Afghanistan in the first half of 2019, UN says (https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2019/07/30/more-civilians-have-died-by-afghan-forces-allies-than-by-militants-in-afghanistan-in-the-first-half-of-2019-un-says/)
More civilians were killed by Afghan and international coalition forces in Afghanistan in the first half of this year than by the Taliban and other militants, the U.N. mission said in a report released Tuesday.
By: Rahim Faiez, The Associated Press
Increasing civilian deaths in stepped-up U.S. airstrikes and operations by Afghan forces highlight the conundrum the U.S. military and its Afghan allies face, 18 years into the war: How to hunt down their Islamic State group and Taliban enemies (https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2019/09/23/at-least-40-civilians-killed-in-anti-taliban-raids-afghan-officials-say/), while keeping civilians safe and on their side.
Complaints have also grown over abuses and killings by a CIA-trained Afghan special intelligence force known as Unit 02. In the same province, Nangarhar, members of the unit killed four brothers during a raid on their home. The brothers’ hands were bound and they were shot in the head.
https://www.militarytimes.com/flashp...afghan-forces/ (https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2019/10/06/anger-grows-at-civilian-deaths-by-us-afghan-forces/)
Swordsmyth
10-07-2019, 06:29 PM
Hopes are rising for the resumption of the abandoned Taliban and US peace talks after eleven senior Taliban members were freed from prison in an exchange with three kidnapped Indian engineers.
Among those freed are two former provincial governors of the Taliban and Abdul Rashid Baluch, a notorious regional leader sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for trafficking opium.
The men were being held near Bagram air base outside Kabul.
It is believed American authorities must have given permission for the swap as Baluch was previously on their Specially Designated Global Terrorist list.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-commanders-released-hopes-rise-183435755.html
Bump to counter slide.
Swordsmyth
10-12-2019, 08:36 PM
Suhail Shaheen, the spokesman of the Taliban political office in Qatar, tweeted about Trump's speech at a rally in Minneapolis, just a few hours after the event, welcoming the U.S. president's call to bring American troops home from Afghanistan.
Shaheen said early on Friday that "Trump once again promised to withdraw forces from Afghanistan" and added that this "means that ending the occupation of Afghanistan is the American people's choice. "
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-welcome-trumps-call-bring-123335798.html
pcosmar
10-12-2019, 08:48 PM
"Trump once again promised to withdraw forces from Afghanistan"
Trump again promises..
and again
and on and so forth...8 months to go,, not like there is any rush.
Swordsmyth
10-20-2019, 01:02 PM
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper has made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan amid efforts to restart peace talks with the Taliban.
"The aim is to still get a peace agreement at some point, a political agreement, that is the best way forward," Esper told reporters traveling with him Sunday.
More at: https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/esper-makes-unannounced-visit-afghanistan
enhanced_deficit
10-20-2019, 10:00 PM
Lot of sanitized war propaganada here, surprised why this was not posted here already. We might see a MAGA tweet on this soon.
Where does 18 months deadline comes from, 2020 election timing?
At least 62 people dead in blast at Afghanistan mosque
The explosion took place as dozens of people gathered inside the mosque for weekly Friday prayers.
https://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2019_42/3058651/191018-afghanistan-blast-mc-1511_7898baf23cf42fa948c845c0cdd267e3.fit-760w.JPG
A volunteer carries an injured youth to a hospital following a blast during weekly Friday prayers in a mosque in Afghanistan.Noorullah Shirzada / AFP - Getty Images
Oct. 18, 2019, 10:19 AM EDT
By Ahmed Mengli and Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan — At least 62 people were killed and dozens more were injured in a blast during weekly prayers Friday at a mosque in eastern Afghanistan.
A local government spokesperson confirmed the death toll to NBC News. Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for Nangarhar province's governor, said at least 33 people were wounded in the explosion.
The blast took place as dozens of people gathered inside the mosque for the Friday prayers.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/least-62-people-dead-blast-afghanistan-mosque-n1068636
More civilians have died by Afghan forces, allies than by militants in Afghanistan in the first half of 2019, UN says (https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2019/07/30/more-civilians-have-died-by-afghan-forces-allies-than-by-militants-in-afghanistan-in-the-first-half-of-2019-un-says/)
Swordsmyth
10-20-2019, 11:21 PM
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper arrived in Afghanistan on Sunday in a bid to bring talks with the Taliban back on track after President Donald Trump abruptly broke off negotiations last month seeking to end the United States' longest war.
"The aim is to still get a peace agreement at some point, a political agreement. That is the best way forward," Esper told reporters traveling with him to Afghanistan. He is due to meet President Ashraf Ghani and U.S. troops while in Afghanistan.
"I hope we can move forward and come up with a political agreement that meets our ends and meets the goals we want to achieve," Esper said, adding that talks were in the State Department’s domain.
He added that the United States could go down to about 8,600 troops, from the current 14,000, without affecting counter-terrorism operations, if needed.
One U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that after Trump's sudden announcement that the United States would withdraw all its troops from northern Syria last week, there was more of a realization that Trump was serious about withdrawing from Afghanistan as well.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-chief-afghanistan-u-looks-113822496.html
Swordsmyth
10-21-2019, 06:03 PM
The United States has pulled out 2,000 troops from Afghanistan over the past year, leaving just over 12,000 in the country, according to the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, The Washington Post reported Oct. 21.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-us-has-been-reducing-presence-over-past-year-commander-says
Swordsmyth
10-25-2019, 07:34 PM
Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, is visiting Moscow for talks with Russian, Chinese and Pakistani officials to discuss reviving the Afghan peace process after U.S. President Donald Trump called off talks with the Taliban in September, The Express Tribune reported Oct. 23.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-us-envoy-meets-foreign-officials-discuss-afghan-peace-process
missvoter
10-25-2019, 08:16 PM
The US used to be a moral peaceful free country with a balanced budget, but today it is a bankrupt immoral warmongering police state.
All the rules have changed.
You might get arrested for loitering, but just stand on any street corner and watch how many drivers use mobile phones while driving, have tinted windows, have unbuckled seatbelts, litter, speed, run redlights, and eat to see the decline.
Since everything is illegal, no cares about breaking the law because even existing is a crime now.
You can blame blacks and illegal immigrants for lawbreaking, but white people break the law, too.
Why obey the law if the government doesn't?
Good men don't need laws.
Bad men won't obey laws.
enhanced_deficit
10-26-2019, 05:53 AM
Why wait 18 months?
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/08/22/15/4373253500000578-4811382-Donald_Trump_was_deeply_skeptical_of_the_war_in_Af ghanistan_in_t-a-2_1503411083910.jpg
18 months gives too much time to people like Sen. Lindsey Graham, Joe Liebeman, experts with maps and miniskirt photos to try and convince MAGA to flip-flop again and end up reinforcing media's 'always folds/FLAT' narrative.
Is true that Iraq war champ Lindsey Graham , who recently caused reversal on Syria troops withdrawal, was also behind MAGA reversal on Afghanistan?
After criticism from Lindsey Graham, Trump says U.S. will keep military in Afghanistan
washingtonpost
Aug 29, 2019
Iraq war champion Lindsey Graham and Foxnews expert showed Trump map of Syrian oil fields to change his mind on troops withdrawal (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?540510-Trump-sending-additional-Troops-to-Syria&p=6877003&viewfull=1#post6877003)
This Photo of Afghan Women in Miniskirts Helped Convince Trump to Send More Troops to Afghanitstan (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?514306-This-Photo-of-Afghan-Women-in-Miniskirts-Helped-Convince-Trump-to-Send-More-Troops&)
Afghanistan in 1970s before US funded Afghan Jihadi radicalization intervention
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__e2VLp6gwyk/SeWT-PY8qJI/AAAAAAAADFQ/OE_IOypofH0/s320/BR9.jpg
Hopefully next time steadfast leadership will prevail and flip-flop influencers would not succeed in continuing failed policy. When that happens, will troops come home or would be just rotated to Saudi/Israel/mideast region (Trump has deployed 14,000 additional troops to the Middle East since May2019 (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?540446-Trump-has-deployed-14-000-additional-troops-to-the-Middle-East-since-May&)) ?
Few hundred troops that were 'withdrawn' from Syria did not come home but were sent to Iraq to fight resurging ISIS there (latest reports suggest some of them would be going back to Syria with more weapons and tanks).
What if ISIS surged in Afghanistan, would any withdrawn troops be sent back to fight it or withdrawal will be postponed again to 'fight suddenly surging ISIS in Afghanistan' in 2019?
Enquiring minds should be raising these questions with MAGA think tanks.
Return of ISIS: Taliban fight ‘join ISIS in droves’ - ‘US is concerned’
ISIS is once again on the rise, with the terror group now boasting as many as 14,000 fighters in Afghanistan alone.
By Emily Ferguson
PUBLISHED: Tue, Sep 17, 2019
ISIS 'developing' with new caliphate claims expert
The Afghan branch of ISIS, known as Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), is gaining ground as Taliban hardliners angry about peace negotiations with the US have “joined ISIS in droves”, according to experts. IS-K, formed in 2014 and known for its ruthless violence and gory propaganda videos on social media, is believed to be responsible for a surge in violence of ISIS violence this year. The attacks have raised fears of an ISIS resurgence even though the group was defeated in its Iraqi and Syrian heartlands earlier this year.
CENTCOM chief warns 'very worrisome' ISIS presence in
June 14, 2019
A senior U.S. general says that ISIS remains a "very worrisome" presence in Afghanistan, but it is unlikely to mount an attack on the U.S. homeland because it is under strong military pressure.
Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, who heads the U.S. Central Command, on June 12 told reporters the extremist group "in Afghanistan certainly has aspirations to attack the United States."
"It is our clear judgment that as long as we maintain pressure on them it will be hard for them to do that," he said.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/images/icons/icon4.png ET Bureau's irresponsible reporting on US military 'promoting ISIS in Afghanistan' (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?540388-ET-Bureau-s-irresponsible-reporting-on-US-military-promoting-ISIS-in-Afghanistan&)
US military allegedly promoting ISIS in Afghanistan
There are allegations that weapons are often transferred to the territory of Afghanistan by helicopters without identifying insignia.
ET Bureau
Apr 22, 2019
The US military is allegedly allowing members of the ISIS, which have suffered serious defeats in Syria and neighboring Iraq, to infiltrate Afghanistan even as US is engaged with peace talks with Taliban for sake of stability in the landlocked country.
There are allegations that weapons are often transferred to the territory of Afghanistan by helicopters without identifying insignia. With the US and NATO fully controlling the skies over Afghanistan, there is every reason to believe they had a hand in that, or at least, did not hamper these flights, sources alleged.
In early April security officials in Afghanistan arrested a group of six media activists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from Kabul. Detained individuals were involved in pro-ISIS activities in social media networks, mainly spreading propagandas in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Telegram.
Afghan officials arrested 10 other ISIS facilitators during a separate operation in Nangarhar province. 12,500 kilograms of explosives were seized during the same operation. Afghan Special Forces, ISIS and the Taliban are preparing for a three-way battle in eastern Afghanistan. ISIS started an offensive against the Taliban few weeks ago in Kunar province - a fight that has displaced more than 20,000 people.
USA and Brussels, however, deny any such role. USA said that the Islamic State terror group is losing its grip on parts of Afghanistan, slowly succumbing to pressure from U.S. and Afghan forces
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai had once told al-Jazeera television news network that the US is colluding with Daesh in Afghanistan, and allowing the Takfiris to flourish in his conflict-stricken country.
Swordsmyth
10-30-2019, 04:11 PM
As the United States searches for an exit from Afghanistan, its outreach to China and Russia points to its rivals' growing influence in shaping the endgame to its longest-ever conflict. On Oct. 25, U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad visited Moscow to discuss reviving the Afghan peace process with Russian, Chinese and Pakistani officials. China is also expected to host Taliban and Afghan government officials for talks next month.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/end-war-afghanistan-us-reaches-out-its-rivals
Swordsmyth
11-22-2019, 12:35 AM
The United States said Thursday that it supported continued Indian involvement in Afghanistan, even as President Donald Trump looks to withdraw troops.India is one of the most enthusiastic backers of Afghanistan's government, contributing more than $3 billion since the 2001 US-led invasion toppled the Taliban, who harbored virulently anti-Indian militants.
"The United States welcomes India's substantial investment in and assistance to Afghanistan," said Nancy Izzo Jackson, a State Department official in charge of Afghanistan.
"And we will continue to support efforts to achieve an honorable and enduring outcome in Afghanistan that preserves our investment in Afghanistan's future," she told a conference on India's role in Afghanistan at the Hudson Institute.
India constructed Afghanistan's new parliament building and has also wooed Afghans with its soft power, including Bollywood films.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla, the Indian ambassador in Washington, said that any settlement in Afghanistan needed to ensure that "there is no room for any terrorist elements to create a foothold."
"It is also important to deliver the message to terrorists that democracies do not surrender to terrorism and in the ideological battle of the 'emirate' versus the 'republic,' the latter prevails," he said.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/us-backs-sustained-indian-role-afghanistan-231958187.html
Swordsmyth
11-25-2019, 07:09 PM
U.S. President Donald Trump said Nov. 22 that the United States was working on an agreement with the Taliban, Voice of America reported Nov. 23. Meanwhile, sources speaking to Afghanistan-based Tolo News confirmed that talks between both sides had begun in Doha, Qatar.
More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/afghanistan-us-taliban-outreach-could-resume-trump-suggests
Swordsmyth
11-28-2019, 05:33 PM
President Trump made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan on Thursday, his first as president, to visit troops for the Thanksgiving holiday. There, Trump said peace talks with the Taliban had resumed, speaking at a US air force base alongside Afghan president Ashraf Ghani.
Trump landed at Bagram Airfield around 8:30 pm local time Thursday and greeted U.S. soldiers over a turkey dinner before meeting with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani at the airfield’s Air Force headquarters.
MOMENTS AGO
President @realDonaldTrump (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) visits U.S. Soldiers at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.... pic.twitter.com/HpHd6PxEqn (https://t.co/HpHd6PxEqn)
— Dan Scavino Jr. (@Scavino45) November 28, 2019 (https://twitter.com/Scavino45/status/1200127447821377537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Following a meeting with Ghani, Trump told reporters that the Taliban “wants to make a deal” and that US officials were "meeting with them." Trump also said that the Taliban was willing to agree to a ceasefire: "The Taliban wants to make a deal and we’re meeting with them and we’re saying it has to be a cease-fire, and they didn’t want to do a cease-fire and now they want to do a cease-fire - I believe it’ll probably work out that way."
Trump also said that the US will continue to reduce its troop commitment to the region, from 12,000 now to about 8,600, but would like to go lower without impacting operational duties. “We can go much further than that, but we’ll have it all covered,” Trump said. [That is without a deal, they will all leave with a deal]
Speaking to the US troops, Trump reiterated that they’re working for a peace deal in Afghanistan. “Rest assured that my administration will always be committed to annihilating terrorists wherever they appear,” he said, adding that he looked forward to the day “when we can bring each and every one of you home and safe to your family, and that day is coming and coming very soon.”
More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-makes-surprise-thanksgiving-visit-us-troops-afghanistan-says-taliban-talks-have
Swordsmyth
11-28-2019, 08:27 PM
The top U.S. general said on Wednesday that the chances of a successful outcome from peace talks on ending the 18-year war in Afghanistan were higher than before and could happen in the "near term."Earlier this month the Afghan Taliban released American and Australian university professors held hostage for more than three years, raising hopes for a revival of peace talks.
Army General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Afghanistan on Wednesday, his first trip to the country since taking the top job in September.
"I think the chances of a positive outcome through negotiations is higher than I have seen, and I've been deeply involved in Afghanistan for 18 years," Milley told reporters.
"With a bit of luck, we'll have successful negotiations in the near term, not too distant future," Milley said.
Before the talks were broken off, both sides had said they were close to a deal.
Two Taliban leaders told Reuters that the group had again been holding meetings with senior U.S. officials in Doha since this weekend, saying they could soon resume the peace process.
"Our leaders started unofficial meetings with senior U.S. officials in Doha and working on a plan how to resume the peace process," one of the Taliban leaders said.
Milley said negotiations were "ongoing."
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/chances-successful-afghanistan-peace-talks-184543518.html
Swordsmyth
11-29-2019, 01:43 AM
The Taliban said on Friday they were ready to restart peace talks with the United States, a day after President Donald Trump made a surprise visit to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and said he believed the radical group would agree to a ceasefire.
Taliban leaders have told Reuters that the group has been holding meetings with senior U.S. officials in Doha since last weekend, adding they could soon resume formal peace talks.
On Friday, Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the hardline Islamist insurgent group, said they were "ready to restart the talks" that collapsed after Trump had called them off earlier this year.
"Our stance is still the same. If peace talks start, it will be resumed from the stage where it had stopped," Mujahid told Reuters.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/trumps-kabul-visit-taliban-says-062558143.html
Swordsmyth
12-06-2019, 02:05 AM
Washington’s special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday to launch an “accelerated effort” to get Afghans on both sides of the protracted conflict to the negotiation table to plot a roadmap to a post-war Afghanistan.His next stop will be Doha in the Middle East where he will restart talks with the Taliban, according to a U.S. State Department statement. The talks would be the first official round since September when President Donald Trump declared an all but done deal dead after a surge in violence killed 12 people in the capital, including a U.S. soldier.
In Kabul on Wednesday, Khalilzad met with several Afghan leaders, including President Ashraf Ghani, who repeated his call for a cease-fire.
Hekmat Karzai, chairman of the Kabul-based Center for Conflict and Peace Studies, tweeted photographs of his meeting Wednesday with Khalilzad in Kabul, saying they “spoke about the way forward.”
A Taliban official said the group has held informal talks with the Americans, without specifying where or who participated. He spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks.
Khalilzad’s visit comes just days after Trump visited U.S. troops in Afghanistan for the Thanksgiving holiday, when he hinted at a resumption of peace talks with the Taliban.
Trump said the U.S. and Taliban have been engaged in talks and insisted the Taliban want to make a deal after heavy U.S. fire in recent months.
The State Department statement said Khalilzad’s Kabul and Doha talks are a follow-up to President Trump's recent visit and to discuss how best to support accelerated efforts to get all parties to intra-Afghan negotiations.”
In Doha, Khalilzad will be pushing for a cease-fire or at least a reduction in violence with an eye to an eventual end to fighting.
The Taliban official said the U.S. has been pressing for a cease-fire, even a temporary one during the time of an agreement signing. While there has been no formal announcement of a reduction in violence, Taliban attacks at least in the cities appear to have decreased in recent weeks.
The Taliban quickly denied responsibility for Wednesday’s shooting that killed Japanese Dr. Tetsu Nakamura, as well as five Afghans, including the doctor’s bodyguards, the driver and a passenger.
Last month, Taliban officials in southern Zabul province announced an unofficial cease-fire in three districts of the province, which they mostly control. The announcement came with the release of hostages Kevin King, an American, and Australian Timothy Weeks in exchange for senior Taliban leaders, including Anas Haqqani.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/us-peace-envoy-zalmay-khalilzad-141201520.html
Swordsmyth
12-08-2019, 05:59 PM
BREAKING: U.S. have resumed talks with the Taliban – AFP
— LIVE Breaking News (@NewsBreaking) December 7, 2019 (https://twitter.com/NewsBreaking/status/1203220787865374721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Swordsmyth
12-15-2019, 12:03 AM
President Donald Trump is set to announce the withdrawal of roughly 4,000 US troops from Afghanistan as early as next week, NBC News reported on Saturday (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/trump-admin-intends-announce-withdrawal-more-4-000-troops-afghanistan-n1102201) based on conversations with three current and former officials.
This would come as the US is engaged in ongoing, troubled peace talks with the Taliban (https://www.businessinsider.com/with-no-good-options-in-afghanistan-us-negotiates-with-terrorists-2019-8?utm_source=yahoo.com&utm_medium=referral). The talks resumed in early December (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-taliban-talks-resume-raising-prospect-end-war-afghanistan-n1097981) after Trump abruptly scrapped negotiations with the Taliban in September, only to be paused again this week (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-envoy-afghanistan-announces-pause-taliban-peace-talks-after-n1101216) after an attack near Bagram Airfield on Wednesday. (https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-show-bagram-air-base-damage-after-intense-taliban-assault-2019-12?utm_source=yahoo.com&utm_medium=referral)
There are currently somewhere between 12,000 to 13,000 US troops in Afghanistan, and withdrawing 4,000 troops would bring total numbers down to somewhere between 8,000 and 9,000. But there's not a clear timeline on when such a withdrawal might begin, nor specific details on how it would be conducted.
The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.
The president reportedly wants to withdraw all US troops by November 2020, and pulling 4,000 out in the near future would be a significant step in that direction.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/trump-set-announce-hes-withdrawing-043248150.html
Swordsmyth
12-16-2019, 03:19 PM
Officials in Afghanistan confirmed Sunday the United States plans to withdraw thousands of troops from the country, insisting the move stemmed from a mutual understanding between the two allied nations.
Sources in Kabul went on to tell VOA the drawdown process is expected to start in three months, though no official confirmation was available immediately about the timeline.
On Saturday, U.S. media reported that President Donald Trump's administration intends to announce as early as later this week plans to reduce the number of American forces in Afghanistan by around 4,000.
A spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani insisted the troop reduction plan is not tied to the ongoing peace negotiations between Washington and the Taliban insurgency aimed at ending the 18-year-old war.
"The matter regarding the withdrawal of 4,000 troops had already been agreed upon in principle between the governments of Afghanistan and the United States," Dawa Khan Meenapal told VOA. He shared no further details.
Currently around 13,000 U.S. troops are deployed to Afghanistan who are conducting counterterrorism missions in addition to advising and training Afghan security forces battling the Taliban.
Trump had told an American broadcaster (Fox News Radio) in a recent interview he might reduce the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to around 8,600.
The withdrawal of foreign forces has been at the center of a peace deal the U.S. has been trying to negotiate with the Taliban for over a year to end America's longest war.
More at: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2019/12/mil-191215-voa01.htm
Swordsmyth
12-17-2019, 12:21 AM
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday he wants to reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan "with or without" a peace agreement in order to give higher priority to strategic competition with China.The Trump administration is expected to announce plans to withdraw around 4,000 troops from Afghanistan, according to US media, after peace talks resumed a week ago between the US and the Taliban.
Esper told reporters Monday that Austin Miller, the head of the NATO mission and US Forces Afghanistan, "is confident that he can go down to a lower number" of troops.
Miller "believes he can conduct all the important counter-terrorism missions and train, advise and assist" the Afghan army, Esper said on a plane as he flew back from Belgium, where he had attended the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/esper-wants-cut-us-troops-without-afghan-peace-044605904.html
Swordsmyth
12-17-2019, 01:59 AM
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said Monday that President Donald Trump will announce an American troop drawdown from Afghanistan this week, which will likely begin next year.
Video at: https://news.yahoo.com/senator-us-begin-drawing-troops-173551108.html
Swordsmyth
12-24-2019, 04:58 PM
US hope to get a new peace deal with the Taliban that would include a ceasefire seems to be panning out, as the Taliban sent part of its delegation to Pakistan to meet with elders in the movement, and they have endorsed the idea.
The ceasefire won’t be immediate, or necessarily long-lasting, however. Rather, the ceasefire will come into place for a short-term once (https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/taliban-gets-go-ahead-ceasefire-elders-sources) the US-Taliban deal is finalized. Exactly how long it is to last is unclear.
A previous peace deal the US was poised to announce was withdrawn from by President Trump at the last minute, reportedly over the lack of a ceasefire. Trump has insisted on a ceasefire this time, and while negotiators weren’t 100% clear they could, the Taliban leaders went along.
Since the Taliban wanted talks to pick up where they left off last time, they are likely very close to finalizing the deal, though the US temporarily paused it to protest an attack on Bagram.
https://news.antiwar.com/2019/12/22/taliban-elders-agree-to-a-short-term-ceasefire-with-us/
Swordsmyth
12-29-2019, 09:38 PM
The Taliban's ruling council agreed Sunday to a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan, providing a window in which a peace agreement with the United States can be signed, officials from the insurgent group said. They didn't say when it would begin.A cease-fire had been demanded by Washington before any peace agreement could be signed. A peace deal would allow the U.S. to bring home its troops from Afghanistan and end its 18-year military engagement there, America's longest.
The Taliban chief must approve the cease-fire decision but that was expected. The duration of the cease-fire was not specified but it was suggested it would last for 10 days. It was also not specified when the cease-fire would begin.
Four members of the Taliban negotiating team met for a week with the ruling council before they agreed on the brief cease-fire. The negotiating team returned Sunday to Qatar where the Taliban maintain their political office and where U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been holding peace talks with the religious militia since September, 2018.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-attack-kills-17-militia-095027543.html
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgifimage.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Fron-paul-its-happening-gif-13.gif&f=1&nofb=1
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2Fvv41Hlv fogHAY%2Fgiphy.gif&f=1&nofb=1
Swordsmyth
01-10-2020, 05:34 PM
The Taliban said it believes escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran are unlikely to hurt the insurgent group's negotiations with Washington aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan.
The first official reaction from the Taliban on January 9 comes a day after Tehran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops, though they did not cause any casualties.
The attack was a retaliation to Friday's American airstrike in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad that killed Iranian military commander, Qasem Soleimani.
Suhail Shaheen, who speaks for the Taliban's negotiating team, told VOA their meetings with U.S. interlocutors over the past year have brought the two adversaries in the 18-year-old Afghan on the verge of signing a peace deal. He dismissed reported concerns U.S.-Iran tensions threatens the peace initiative.
"The developments will not have negative impact on the peace process because the (U.S.-Taliban) peace agreement is finalized and only remains to be signed (by the two sides)," Shaheen asserted.
The progress, he insisted, has been achieved because both the Taliban and the U.S. agree the Afghan conflict could only be settled through peaceful means.
Insurgent sources say Khalilzad is currently visiting the Qatari capital of Doha, where he has made informal contacts with Taliban representatives to find out whether they are ready to meet his demand for a ceasefire or reduction in the violence.
Neither Taliban nor U.S. officials have commented on Khalilzad's presence in the Gulf nation, which has played host to the U.S.-Taliban talks since late 2018.
More at: https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-says-us-iran-dispute-will-not-harm-afghan-peace-process/30368795.html
enhanced_deficit
01-11-2020, 11:03 AM
The Taliban's ruling council agreed Sunday to a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan, providing a window in which a peace agreement with the United States can be signed, officials from the insurgent group said.
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgifimage.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Fron-paul-its-happening-gif-13.gif&f=1&nofb=1
Was that fakenews ?
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/images/icons/icon4.png Afghan War: 60 civilians killed/wounded in US drone strike; 2 US troops killed by IED (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?542840-Afghan-War-60-civilians-killed-wounded-in-US-drone-strike-2-US-troops-killed-by-IED&)
Swordsmyth
01-17-2020, 01:41 AM
The Taliban will implement a 10-day ceasefire with U.S. troops, a reduction in violence with Afghan forces and discussions with Afghan government officials if it reaches an agreement with U.S. negotiators in talks in Doha, two sources have said.If an agreement is reached, the move could revive hopes for a long-term solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.
Taliban and U.S. negotiation teams met on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the signing of a peace deal, according to a spokesman for the Taliban office in Doha, Qatar.
The talks between the two sides were "useful" and would continue for a few days, the spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, said in a tweet early on Friday.
A senior Taliban commander said: "The U.S. wanted us to announce a ceasefire during the peace talks which we had rejected. Our shura (council) has agreed to a ceasefire the day the peace accord is signed."
Once an agreement for the ceasefire is in place, the Taliban and Afghan government could meet face to face in Germany, said the commander. Previously, the Taliban had refused to engage in talks with the Afghan government.
"Our representatives have been meeting with the U.S. negotiation team in Doha and they persistently demanded a ceasefire which we had declined due to some issues," the Taliban commander said. "Now most of our reservations have been addressed."
Another source close to the talks confirmed the commander's version of events.
A date for the signing of the agreement with the U.S. side has not been fixed, but the Taliban commander said he expected it to be "very soon."
More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/taliban-open-10-day-ceasefire-051941851.html
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgifimage.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Fron-paul-its-happening-gif-13.gif&f=1&nofb=1
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2Fvv41Hlv fogHAY%2Fgiphy.gif&f=1&nofb=1
Swordsmyth
01-18-2020, 12:15 AM
The Taliban have given the U.S. envoy their offer for a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan that would last between seven and 10 days, Taliban officials familiar with the negotiations said Thursday.The offer is seen as an opportunity to open a window to an eventual peace deal that would allow the United States to bring home its estimated 13,000 troops and end the 18-year war in Afghanistan, America's longest conflict.
The cease-fire offer was handed to Zalmay Khalilzad, Washington's envoy for talks with the insurgents, late Wednesday in Qatar, a Gulf Arab country where the Taliban maintain a political office.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-handed-cease-fire-offer-091102299.html
Swordsmyth
01-18-2020, 06:23 PM
The Taliban are aiming to reach a withdrawal agreement with the US by the end of January and are prepared to "scale down" military operations ahead of signing the deal, according to their chief spokesman.The statement by Suhail Shaheen to Pakistani daily Dawn comes as the group and the US held discussions in Doha this week, after insurgent sources told AFP they had offered to initiate a brief ceasefire.
"We have agreed to scale down military operations in days leading up to the signing of the peace agreement with the United States," Shaheen told Dawn in a report published Saturday.
He added that the Taliban were "optimistic" a deal with Washington could be signed before the end of the month and that the reduction in fighting across the country would also include the targeting of Afghan forces.
"It's now a matter of days," said the spokesman.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-aim-sign-deal-us-end-month-report-082905702.html
Swordsmyth
02-12-2020, 05:48 PM
Trump Gives Conditional Go Ahead on Peace Deal With Taliban, Officials Say (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?543786-Trump-Gives-Conditional-Go-Ahead-on-Peace-Deal-With-Taliban-Officials-Say)
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgifimage.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Fron-paul-its-happening-gif-13.gif&f=1&nofb=1
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2Fvv41Hlv fogHAY%2Fgiphy.gif&f=1&nofb=1
Swordsmyth
02-14-2020, 02:00 AM
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he thinks there is a "good chance" the United States would reach an agreement with the Taliban by the end of February on a U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.Trump's comments were the latest indication of significant progress in negotiations that the United States and the Taliban have been holding since December in Qatar.
"I think we're very close," Trump said on a podcast broadcast on iHeart Radio when asked if a tentative deal had been reached. "I think there's a good chance that we'll have a deal ... We're going to know over the next two weeks."
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the talks had achieved "a pretty important breakthrough." Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the sides have been negotiating a proposed seven-day reduction in violence that some lawmakers saw as a test of the Taliban leadership's control of its fighters.
Sources had told Reuters a U.S.-Taliban peace deal could be signed this month, a move that would pave the way for a withdrawal from Afghanistan of some 13,000 U.S. troops and thousands of other NATO personnel, 18 years after a U.S.-led coalition invaded following the Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on the United States.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/u-taliban-negotiated-proposal-seven-143826808.html
enhanced_deficit
02-14-2020, 02:37 AM
Fort Drum soldier dies in Afghanistan
By FOX 5 NY Staff
Updated 8 hours ago
https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox10phoenix.com/www.fox10phoenix.com/content/uploads/2020/02/764/432/SPC-Branden-Kimball.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 article
Spc. Branden Tyme Kimball, a Fort Drum-based soldier, died in AfghanistanNEW YORK - A soldier from Fort Drum, in northern New York, has died in Afghanistan.
Spc. Branden Tyme Kimball, 21, died at Bagram Airfield in a non-combat related incident on Feb. 12, 2020, the Department of Defense announced, which did not release the exact nature of the incident.
Kimball was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, based out of Fort Drum. He served as an aircraft structural repairer, according to Col. Darrell Doremus, the commander of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade.
"As we mourn the loss of one of our own, our thoughts and prayers are with the people that knew [him] best: his family, friends, and the soldiers he worked with each and every day," Doremus said in a statement on Facebook. "Our hearts reach out to those that will grieve for him today, tomorrow, and long into the future."
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed flags on state government buildings to be flown at half-staff on Friday in Kimball's honor.
"We are devastated by his loss and join his fellow soldiers, his family, and his friends in honoring his service to our nation," Cuomo said in a statement. "His death is a reminder of the sacrifices members of the military make to protect the freedoms and the values that this state and this nation were founded upon."Kimball was originally from Central Point, Oregon. He was in Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
fox10phoenix.com/news/fort-drum-soldier-dies-in-afghanistan
Swordsmyth
02-14-2020, 06:04 PM
A senior U.S. official said Friday the United States and the Taliban have reached a truce agreement that will take effect “very soon” and could lead to withdrawals of American troops from Afghanistan.The official said the agreement for a seven-day “reduction in violence” to be followed by the start of all-Afghan peace talks within 10 days is “very specific” and covers the entire country, including Afghan government forces. There were indications a formal announcement could come as early as the weekend.
The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the Taliban had committed to a halt in roadside and suicide bombings as well as rocket attacks. The official said the U.S. would monitor the truce and determine if there were any violations.
Should the Taliban comply, the “reduction in violence” agreement would be followed by the signing of an agreement that would initiate peace negotiations that include all Afghan sides.
A Taliban official familiar with the deal said the second agreement would be signed on Feb. 29 and that the inter-Afghan dialogue would begin on Mar. 10. The officials said Germany and Norway have offered to host the talks but there has been no decision on the venue.
That Taliban official added that the withdrawal of foreign troops would start gradually and would be phased over 18 months.
More at: https://apnews.com/fa41245d47d48332b10c8aeadcd6cb73
Zippyjuan
02-14-2020, 07:02 PM
Supposedly there was a deal this summer too. Nothing happened (except Trump called it off). Like his Israel "peace deal", these talks leave out one of the major parties. In the case of Israel, the Palestinians were left out. In these talks, the Afghan government is left out. And the end goal is not a compete withdrawl but a further reduction in troops- from 12,000 to about 8,600. It does not even call for a cease fire but a "reduction in violence" for just one week. But it is a start.
https://www.npr.org/2020/02/14/805980180/u-s-reaches-reduction-in-violence-deal-with-taliban-in-afghanistan
Administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity at the Munich Security Conference, say there will be a seven-day "reduction in violence" but did not specify when it would start. The seven days are meant as an initial confidence-building measure.
The next step would involve the signing of an agreement between the U.S and the Taliban. That would pave the way for intra-Afghan talks to determine the future of Afghanistan and the role the Taliban could play in it.
The U.S. military will monitor the reduction in violence, according to a senior administration official.
A weeklong decline in violence would be an abrupt shift from one of the most violent years of the 18-year conflict. An overall deal with the Taliban would lay out a four-and-a-half month timetable to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to 8,600 from around 12,000.
This initial agreement was worked out by U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban over months of negotiations in Doha, Qatar. The U.S. and Taliban had reached an agreement last summer, but President Trump walked away from that near-deal in September after a U.S. service member was killed in a car bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Swordsmyth
02-15-2020, 06:46 PM
A senior US official announced Friday that a ceasefire deal with the Taliban has been agreed to after 16 months of controversial direct State Department and Taliban negotiations, AP reports (https://apnews.com/fa41245d47d48332b10c8aeadcd6cb73), as part of the continuing Trump administration saga to finally get out America's 18-year war.
The deal is being described as "very specific" — a positive sign considering recent perhaps more ambiguous ceasefire attempts have quickly failed before even getting off the ground — and includes a seven day "reduction of violence" nationwide which is to be a precursor to all-Afghan peace talks within 10 days.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper had first hinted at the deal in comments on Friday, saying Washington had "negotiated a proposal for a seven-day reduction in violence."
According to the AP, the end goal if this new deal sticks would "initiate the peace negotiations and the withdrawal of U.S. troops".
The AP describes the conditional precursor as follows (https://www.heraldonline.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article240298266.html):
The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the Taliban had committed to a halt in roadside and suicide bombings as well as rocket attacks. The official said the U.S. would monitor the truce and determine if there were any violations.
More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-taliban-reach-major-truce-agreement-features-eventual-release-5000-taliban
Swordsmyth
02-20-2020, 02:50 AM
And in the latest survey, 64% of Afghans say they believe reconciliation with the Taliban is possible, a jump of 11 percentage points in only one year.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/afghan-triumphs-drive-afghan-truce-194014694.html
Swordsmyth
02-20-2020, 11:57 PM
The Taliban's deputy leader said the group would soon sign a agreement with the United States to reduce violence for seven days, adding that militant commanders were "fully committed" to observing the "historic" accord."That we today stand at the threshold of a peace agreement with the United States is no small milestone," Sirajuddin Haqqani wrote in an opinion piece in the New York Times, in the first significant public statement by a Taliban leader on the accord for a week-long reduction in violence (RIV).
The agreement in principle, which was struck during negotiations between U.S. and Taliban representatives in Qatar, could lead to a withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
"Achieving the potential of the agreement, ensuring its success and earning lasting peace will depend on an equally scrupulous observance by the United States of each of its commitments," wrote Haqqani, who is also head of the Pakistan-linked Haqqani Network.
Clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters have continued, but Afghanistan's acting interior minister said on Tuesday an agreement to cut violence would be enforced within five days.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/historic-u-taliban-pact-signed-134546929.html
Swordsmyth
02-22-2020, 12:54 AM
An agreement between the United States and the Taliban could come as soon as February 29 in Afghanistan (https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2019/12/29/security-guards-afghan-warlords-mass-civilian-casualties/2675795001/), Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement released (https://twitter.com/statedeptspox/status/1230808813105766400?s=20)Friday.
According to Pompeo, the U.S. "reached an understanding with the Taliban" on a reduction of violence that could lead to the signing of a U.S.-Taliban agreement next week. The signing is dependent upon the "successful implementation" of the agreement, Pompeo said.
Last week, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the deal includes a seven-day "reduction in violence." A senior State Department official confirmed the reduction in violence period will start tonight Afghanistan (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/02/21/watchdog-trumps-afghanistan-strategy-fails-prioritize-drug-trade/4611475002/)time, and the signing will take place on the 29th in Doha between a Taliban representative and U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khlalilzad.
"Intra-Afghan" negotiations would start "soon thereafter" to eventually lead to a ceasefire in Afghanistan, Pompeo said.
"The only way to achieve a sustainable peace in Afghanistan is for Afghans to come together and agree on the way forward," he said.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/secretary-state-mike-pompeo-says-121341574.html
Zippyjuan
02-22-2020, 11:43 AM
An agreement between the United States and the Taliban could come as soon as February 29 in Afghanistan (https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2019/12/29/security-guards-afghan-warlords-mass-civilian-casualties/2675795001/), Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement released (https://twitter.com/statedeptspox/status/1230808813105766400?s=20)Friday.
According to Pompeo, the U.S. "reached an understanding with the Taliban" on a reduction of violence that could lead to the signing of a U.S.-Taliban agreement next week. The signing is dependent upon the "successful implementation" of the agreement, Pompeo said.
Last week, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the deal includes a seven-day "reduction in violence." A senior State Department official confirmed the reduction in violence period will start tonight Afghanistan (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/02/21/watchdog-trumps-afghanistan-strategy-fails-prioritize-drug-trade/4611475002/)time, and the signing will take place on the 29th in Doha between a Taliban representative and U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khlalilzad.
"Intra-Afghan" negotiations would start "soon thereafter" to eventually lead to a ceasefire in Afghanistan, Pompeo said.
"The only way to achieve a sustainable peace in Afghanistan is for Afghans to come together and agree on the way forward," he said.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/secretary-state-mike-pompeo-says-121341574.html
So they will sign the understanding on a one week "reduction in violence" after that one week is over. Note they don't call it any actual "agreement" but an "understanding". Trump has had several "understandings" with North Korea on their weapons programs which have continued unabated.
They did say that all troops will not be withdrawn until there is an agreement between the Taliban, the US, and the Afghan government. Problem is, the Taliban does not recognize the Afghan government and won't even talk to them. Lots of noise but not much really happening. Election year politics?
RonZeplin
02-22-2020, 12:22 PM
https://images.theweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/4_Wasserman.jpg?itok=vbdbR3ZU
Swordsmyth
02-22-2020, 05:18 PM
So they will sign the understanding on a one week "reduction in violence" after that one week is over. Note they don't call it any actual "agreement" but an "understanding". Trump has had several "understandings" with North Korea on their weapons programs which have continued unabated.
They did say that all troops will not be withdrawn until there is an agreement between the Taliban, the US, and the Afghan government. Problem is, the Taliban does not recognize the Afghan government and won't even talk to them. Lots of noise but not much really happening. Election year politics?
It's getting closer and you can't stop it.
Zippyjuan
02-22-2020, 05:25 PM
It's getting closer and you can't stop it.
Heard that before. "We will be leaving Syria in 30 days". Trump- December, 2018.
Swordsmyth
02-28-2020, 09:10 PM
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/TrumpAfghanStatement.png
Swordsmyth
02-29-2020, 02:37 AM
The United States and the Islamists it toppled from power in Afghanistan are poised to sign a peace deal Saturday after a conflict that outlasted two U.S. commanders in chief and is now led by a third eager to fulfill a campaign promise to extricate America from “endless wars."
U.S. troops are to be withdrawn to 8,600 from about 13,000 in the weeks following Saturday's signing. Further drawdowns are to depend on the Taliban meeting certain counter-terrorism conditions, compliance that will be assessed by the United States. But officials say soldiers will be coming home.
Already, some U.S. lawmakers and veterans of the conflict have raised red flags about any agreement with the Taliban.
Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming led 21 Republican legislators in demanding that the administration not concede anything to the Taliban that would allow them to once again harbor those who seek to harm U.S. citizens and interests. Cheney, the daughter of former President Bush's vice president, Dick Cheney, urged Pompeo and Esper in a letter to reject any commitment to a full withdrawal of American troops.
More at: https://news.yahoo.com/us-taliban-set-peace-signing-213300996.html
Warlord
02-29-2020, 08:24 AM
1233742728846020608
I'll believe this when it happens. There have been many false dawns regarding Afghanistan.
Ender
02-29-2020, 09:40 AM
1233742728846020608
I'll believe this when it happens. There have been many false dawns regarding Afghanistan.
Exactly.
The key sentence is: if Taliban meet commitments to prevent terrorism. The Taliban are not the "terrorists" in their own country.
oyarde
02-29-2020, 09:46 AM
Even Zippy supports the peace deal.
Warlord
02-29-2020, 09:55 AM
7477
Rand is going to be happy. First the potential to gut the PATRIOT Act coming up and now Afghanistan. One thing is for sure; expect the Neocons to push back, especially in Congress.
oyarde
02-29-2020, 10:05 AM
7477
Rand is going to be happy. First the potential to gut the PATRIOT Act coming up and now Afghanistan. One thing is for sure; expect the Neocons to push back, especially in Congress.
That is as happy as you will see Pence & Rand together . Great job .
enhanced_deficit
02-29-2020, 11:53 AM
To give credit where due, this could be historic if validated/ led to bringing back home MAGA troops surges of 2017 and years before that.
Nobel Peace Prize awards commitee, are you reading this news?
Bold move too as this carries some political risk. Some of his converted supporters like Dennis Prager had authored articles like "Immorality of leaving Iraq and Afgahnistan". Might even pose some 2020 political funding risk as his top donor is a widely respected pro Iran war globalist neoconservative. But all pro liberty folks should stand with POTUS on this.
Related
PSA: Taliban peace deal reduces troop levels to start of Trump presidency (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?544205-PSA-Taliban-peace-deal-reduces-troop-levels-to-start-of-Trump-presidency&)
September 10
Andrew McCarthy: Taliban terrorists have no place at Camp David
https://a57.foxnews.com/media2.foxnews.com/BrightCove/694940094001/2019/09/10/931/524/694940094001_6084907750001_6084902257001-vs.jpg?ve=1&tl=1
Peace deal dead between US and Taliban
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/andr...sts-camp-david (https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/andrew-mccarthy-taliban-terrorists-camp-david)
Ted Cruz: 'U.S. policy has changed, now we make deals with terrorists'
https://www.politifact.com/factcheck...-make-deals-t/ (https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2014/jun/01/ted-cruz/ted-cruz-us-policy-has-changed-now-we-make-deals-t/)
devil21
02-29-2020, 12:01 PM
Does this mean Congress can repeal the original AUMF finally? The whole thing was based on the 9/11 Afghan invasion in the first place. I'll believe it's for real when the AUMF is legally vacated.
enhanced_deficit
02-29-2020, 12:01 PM
https://images.theweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/4_Wasserman.jpg?itok=vbdbR3ZU
To be fair, this does not look like historic North Korea-Trump Peace Summit though that was also accused of having "no clear goals" and later had faltered.
https://media4.s-nbcnews.com/i/newscms/2018_21/2443416/180524-us-north-korea-summit-coin-illustration-al-1041_248259d83bf094dd18477987cf46c1d9.jpg
NBC News
Trump says U.S. military 'ready if necessary' ...
acptulsa
05-17-2020, 08:26 AM
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?530768-Foreign-troops-to-quit-Afghanistan-in-18-months-under-draft-deal&highlight=Withdraw+afghanistan
Yes, and here's where you heard it. Now celebrate like it could actually happen, mundane. And next time you hear it, act like you never heard it before.
acptulsa
05-24-2020, 05:10 PM
Ahead of which schedule? This schedule? Or that schedule:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?530768-Foreign-troops-to-quit-Afghanistan-in-18-months-under-draft-deal&highlight=Withdraw+afghanistan
?
Swordsmyth
05-24-2020, 05:12 PM
Ahead of which schedule? This schedule? Or that schedule:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?530768-Foreign-troops-to-quit-Afghanistan-in-18-months-under-draft-deal&highlight=Withdraw+afghanistan
?
The schedule after the deal was finalized.
acptulsa
05-24-2020, 05:14 PM
The schedule after the deal was finalized.
You're pretending that answers my question?
Out with it, man. Which (if any) of these many contradictory promises will be kept?
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.