No peace until foreign troops leave Afghanistan: Taliban chief
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KABUL: The Afghan Taliban's new leader told Kabul on Tuesday it must cancel a security deal with the United States (US) and expel all foreign troops if it wants peace in Afghanistan.
Mullah Mansour made the demand in his first message marking the Muslim festival of Eidul Azha since taking charge of the insurgent movement after the death of talismanic founding leader Mullah Omar was confirmed in July.
"If the Kabul administration wants to end the war and establish peace in the country, it is possible through ending the occupation and revoking all military and security treaties with the invaders," Mansour said in the message posted in English on the Afghan Taliban's website.
The militants have spent recent weeks trying to patch up a damaging rift in the movement sparked by the power struggle that followed the admission Omar had died in 2013.
Also read: Afghan Taliban announce end of succession dispute
Many in the movement were unhappy the death had been kept secret for two years — during which time annual Eid statements were issued in Omar's name.
Despite its internal struggles, and the recent emergence of the self-styled rival Islamic State (IS) group in the country, the Taliban's 14-year insurgency shows no sign of slackening.
Recent overtures by the government of President Ashraf Ghani for a peace settlement have ended in failure.
More on this: New Afghan President Ashraf Ghani calls for Taliban peace talks
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Comments (23) Closed
Sep 22, 2015 12:28pm
Yes, they would want the US to leave Afghanistan so that they can carry out their terror strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan without any restraint. Such cowards this Taliban is.
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Sep 22, 2015 12:49pm
will there be peace even if the foreign troops leave Afghanistan?
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Sep 22, 2015 12:50pm
@Tarannum S. ... Criminals can be tried in the criminal courts. Men trying to destroy Pakistan should face military tribunals.
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Sep 22, 2015 01:00pm
Yes Indeed
Afghans have each and every right to be an independent from foreign occupation. It is wise for USA to leave Afghanistan as soon as possible; otherwise it would be a nightmare for them even worse than Vietnam. USA/Nato are defeated and humiliated in Afghanistan. The should neither prolong their miseries nor of Afghans.
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Sep 22, 2015 01:45pm
Well we all claim that war is not solution but still there are many wars around the world why it is happening because we are not giving enough time to settle differences through dialogues. We should accept some demand to proceed and be patient for out come for example is it harming to accept Taliban demand to expel all foreign troops ? at the same time second party can demand to complete halt on fighting until dialog process continue and give them sometime to accept and understand each other demands don't expect out come in hours or days or months
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Sep 22, 2015 03:55pm
Before demanding this, Taliban should denounce use of force and lay down their arms.
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Sep 22, 2015 04:13pm
The whole world has seen the Taliban brand of "peace". I for one don't subscribe to it.
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Sep 22, 2015 04:51pm
Even a fool can see, there will be no peace in Afghanistan or Pakistan until the American invaders are thrown out, its as simple as that.
If this war could have been won by the gun, that would have happened a long time ago when two superpowers and their allied poodles failed and ran away. The current contingent of invaders in Afghanistan is there only to protect the government in Kabul and to save their own face at being defeated by insurgency.
We can deny all we want but that is the reality. The writ of the Afghan government dosent even exist in Kabul itself as there are frequent attacks on government troops. Is there anyone who is aware of Afghan history, is there anyone with even a slight sense of statesmanship and strategic thinking in the interest of our countries. We must get out of the Washington trap otherwise more blood will flow.
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Sep 22, 2015 04:55pm
The Taliban commander wanting the foreign troops to leave first before any dialogue process clearly indicates that he wants a military solution to the Afghan problem.
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Sep 22, 2015 05:16pm
Why Pakistan does not destroy Taliban from both Pakistan and Afghanistan? Something stopped them from doing so.
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Sep 22, 2015 06:23pm
This commander talking nonsense
Just empty talks
Nothing more ...hope he departs from planet soon
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Sep 22, 2015 06:40pm
USA is problem creator,, wherever USA goes, it results into killing of innocents people, both from locals, foreigners..
Afghanistan was peaceful before arrival of USA. USA must leave.
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Sep 22, 2015 07:32pm
Just a new slogan which was badly needed to validate their reason of presence after old slogan lost after foreign troops left Afghanistan. Around 08 month time delay was not exploited / cashed both by Pakistan and Afghanistan to make them weeker / vanish . Though not good but Agencies supporting them provided them a wisdom 08 month later. God bless Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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Sep 22, 2015 07:46pm
The message is loud and clear from the Top leadership of Afghan Taliban. Political leadership of Afghanistan lost the opportunity paved by Pakistani interference to bring Taliban to the negotiating table. Under these circumstances, and if the demands made by Taliban are acceded to, power sharing deal between the Afghan government and Taliban is the only option with the former. In view of the prevailing scenario and given the Inhuman System (IS)'s growing activities, Afghan political leadership must seal a viable deal with the Taliban to salvage the country from further fragmentation and destruction.
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Sep 22, 2015 07:46pm
Little chance of peace even if the foreign troops leave. unfortunately there will be the same infighting and warlordism for years to come.
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Sep 22, 2015 07:51pm
No peace till foreign troops leave and after that no more peace and the story will go on.
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Sep 22, 2015 08:12pm
The demand of the ring leader of Afghan terrorists living in a foreign country is ridiculous. Their sponsors are the ones who are pulling their strings.
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Sep 22, 2015 08:31pm
There in no harm in accepting their demand if they convince the OIC to ensure by guarantee that there would be no insurgency after the full withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.
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Sep 22, 2015 08:44pm
True ,all foreign troops and advisors should leave. But at the same time, afghans should also leave Pakistan,fighters and refugees alike. Pakistan should change its perception and strategic policies vis a vis Afghanistan and disengage militarily. Afghans should now solve their own problems.Taliban are legitimate contenders to power in Afghanistan since they enjoy vast support base , both ethnic and religious. But they should now evolve into a political party , slowly disengaging from their militant past. Is that easy? Not at all. But it may be the only way forward.
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Sep 22, 2015 08:45pm
I second this statement. US & NATO are invaders anyways.
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Sep 22, 2015 08:55pm
@Nachiket
"Why Pakistan does not destroy Taliban from both Pakistan and Afghanistan? Something stopped them from doing so."
yes, same thing that did not let usa do it.
And Russia earlier and the British, and ....
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Sep 22, 2015 09:30pm
American's kicked the Taliban out of power - Afghan voters turned out in record numbers to insure they don't come back. The Taliban have lost and statements implying peace if the American's leave aren't going to change many minds.
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Sep 23, 2015 01:25pm
Can someone please tell me what these Taliban are smoking? I need some so I can be able to communicate with them.
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