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AFGHANISTAN-CONFLICT LEAD
Taliban say have ‘no ceasefire plans’ in Afghanistan
KABUL, Dec 30, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The Taliban Monday denied agreeing to any
ceasefire in Afghanistan after rumours swirled of a potential deal that would
see a reduction in fighting after more than 18 years of war.
The statement from the insurgents comes as local and international forces
brace for another bloody winter amid renewed US-Taliban talks, after
President Donald Trump called off the negotiations earlier this year over
insurgent attacks.
“In the past few days, some media have been releasing untrue reports about
a ceasefire… The fact is that, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has no
ceasefire plans,” the Taliban said.
The US and the Afghan government in Kabul have long called for a ceasefire
with the Taliban, including during the year of negotiations between
Washington and the Taliban that were abruptly called off by Trump in
September.
However, the militants have repeatedly stated that any potential truce will
only be ironed out after American troops withdraw from the country.
The US-Taliban talks, held mainly in Doha, were aimed at allowing
Washington to begin withdrawing troops in return for various security
guarantees.
They were on the brink of a deal when Trump abandoned the effort in
September, citing Taliban violence. Negotiations have since restarted in
Doha, but were earlier this month put on a “pause”.
Trump is looking to slash the troop presence in Afghanistan, potentially
even before a deal between Washington and the Taliban is cemented.
Meanwhile deadly bouts of fighting continue, with tens of thousands of
Afghan security forces killed since they inherited combat operations from
NATO at the end of 2014.
Every day Afghans also continue to bear the brunt of the bloody conflict.
Last week the UN said the country had passed a grim milestone this year,
with more than 100,000 Afghan civilians killed or wounded over the past
decade.
A UN tally found that last year was the deadliest on record, with at least
3,804 civilian deaths caused by the war — including 927 children.
Afghanistan is also struggling with an ongoing political dispute after
officials announced preliminary results in the latest presidential elections
that put President Ashraf Ghani on track to secure a second term.
Elections authorities have yet to declare the results as final after
receiving more than 16,000 complaints about the polls, with the ultimate
tally expected in the coming weeks.
The Taliban have long viewed Ghani as an American stooge and have refused
to negotiate with his government, leading many to fear that fighting against
Afghan forces will continue even if the US secures an eventual deal with the
militants to withdraw.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1627hrs