Biden Administration To Review US-Taliban Withdrawal Deal
Faizan Hashmi Published January 23, 2021 | 03:04 PM
The Biden administration said it will review a landmark US deal with the Taliban, focusing on whether the insurgent group has reduced attacks in Afghanistan, in keeping with its side of the agreement
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2021 ) :The Biden administration said it will review a landmark US deal with the Taliban, focusing on whether the insurgent group has reduced attacks in Afghanistan, in keeping with its side of the agreement.
Washington struck a deal with the Taliban in Qatar last year, to begin withdrawing its troops in return for security guarantees from the militants and a commitment to kickstart peace talks with the Afghan government.
But violence across Afghanistan has surged despite the two sides engaging in those talks since September.
President Joe Biden's newly appointed national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, spoke with his Afghan counterpart Hamdullah Mohib and "made clear the United States' intention to review" the deal, said National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne late Friday.
Specifically, Washington wants to check that the Taliban is "living up to its commitments to cut ties with terrorist groups, to reduce violence in Afghanistan, and to engage in meaningful negotiations with the Afghan government and other stakeholders," her statement continued.
It added that Sullivan "underscored that the US will support the peace process with a robust and regional diplomatic effort, which will aim to help the two sides achieve a durable and just political settlement and permanent ceasefire.
" Sullivan also discussed the United States' support for protecting recent progress made on women and minority groups' rights as part of the peace process.
When contacted, the Taliban said they remained "committed to the agreement and honour our commitments".
"We expect the other side to remain committed to the agreement too," Mohammad Naeem, the group's spokesman in Qatar, told AFP.
Washington's move was met with a sigh of relief from officials in Kabul after months of speculation over how the new administration would potentially recalibrate the Afghan policy.
Mohib, the Afghan national security advisor, tweeted that during the call the two sides "agreed to work toward a permanent ceasefire and a just and durable peace" in the country.
Another top Afghan government official lambasted the Taliban's failure to live up to the February 2020 deal, saying the agreement had failed to achieve its stated goals.
"The agreement so far, did not deliver a desired goal of ending Taliban's violence and bringing a ceasefire desired by the Afghans," Sediq Sediqqi, Deputy Interior Minister and former spokesman to President Ashraf Ghani said on Twitter.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From World
-
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
14 minutes ago -
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
14 minutes ago -
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
29 minutes ago -
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
19 minutes ago -
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
19 minutes ago -
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
26 minutes ago
-
Israeli-fired unexploded bombs could take 14 years to clear: UN
19 minutes ago -
US announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
14 minutes ago -
Pakistan’s National Day Reception held in Colombo
13 minutes ago -
Erdogan's White House talks with Biden on May 9 postponed: Turkish official
13 minutes ago -
Spanish PM keeps country guessing on his future
13 minutes ago -
At least 10 people killed in Brazil fire: officials
2 hours ago