Followed by a Speech by President Joe Biden on April 14, 2021, in which he announced the withdrawal of American troops might start from May 1, 2021, and completes on September 11, 2021, the scheduled Afghan Peace Summit to be held on April 24, 2021, in Turkey, became in doubt.
According to the Associated Press and other outlets, Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said that the group was not ready to attend the conference both the United States and the Afghan government had hoped to start later this week. He said the group was still discussing the U.S.-proffered peace agreement, referring to a proposal from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this year. The Taliban are not ready to attend the proposed peace conference in Turkey, which had been tentatively scheduled for April 16. The United States has held out making an official call on whether it would require withdrawal as of May 1, arguably in hopes of negotiating for an extension that would give the Biden administration breathing room and the intra-Afghan peace process more time. The Taliban have maintained a firm line on the agreement’s timeline and continued attacks on Afghan forces.
As reported by TOLO News, a former Taliban commander, Sayed Akbar Agha, said, “The Taliban has said that things will not move forward unless the issue of withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan is made clear. Therefore, I think that the Turkey conference will not be held unless these issues are made clear.”
Turkey has already announced the postponement of subject Summit.
As agreed earlier in February 2020, in Doha Peace negotiations, under Trump-Administration, the withdrawal of all troops was scheduled to be completed before May 1, 2021. President Trump fulfilled his promise and withdrew most of the soldiers before January 20, 2021, before departing from the White house. There are only 2500 regular troops are remaining in Afghanistan and should have been withdrawn conveniently. But President Joe Biden took time to implement the agreed peace deal and announce a delay in withdrawal.
It will definitely complicate the situation in Afghanistan. And may lead toward more bloodshed. However, the U.S. has accepted its failure in Afghanistan and considers it an unwinnable war. Yet, delaying is beyond understanding.
Another approach to link the withdrawal with the staged incident of 9/11 in the year 2001 is also irrational. President Bush engineered the 9/11 incident was to initiate a crusade. He destroyed the Muslim world with the 9/11 lame excuse. Attacked Afghanistan, Sudan, Iraq, Libya and destroyed utterly. Initiated war in Yemen and Syria, which are still ongoing. He launched Arab spring in Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt, etc.
However, after fighting in Afghanistan for two decades, spending Trillion Dollars, suffering heavy casualties on both sides, using all possible hi-tech, advanced, and lethal weapons, the latest war tactics and forces of 46 allied countries, could not control even a fraction of Afghanistan. Still, 70% of Afghanistan is under Taliban control. Neither could find any solid evidence or valid proof that Afghanistan was involved in the 9/11 incident. There is absolutely no logic to delay the troops’ withdrawal till 9/11, 2021, or linking the exit with the engineered 9/11 incident.
As a result of the crusade initiated by President Bush, millions of Muslims were killed, millions were injured, caused disability or fatal injuries. Properties, crops, businesses, and homes were destroyed in the Muslim world. Made millions of homeless and forced them to live in refugee camps in their own counties or migrate to Europe. It was the U.S. that created the environment where the Muslims can not live in their own country, but Europe has to bear the burden of refugees. E.U. has to pay for American crimes. Pity!
Strange! American invaded Afghanistan to change their tribal society, but after two decades, they have turned themselves into a Tribal community. The number of shootings, killings, and violent incidents increased sharply under President Joe Biden’s Administration, seems a tribal society almost.
Pakistan is a victim of the Afghan war and one of the first countries that wanted permanent peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan suffered almost 80,000 precious lives, an estimated economic loss of nearly U.S. Dollars 250 billion, and above all, a gift of extremism, intolerance, terrorism, drugs & human trafficking, and gun culture.
Pakistan desires an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and sustainable solution. Pakistan stands with the people of Afghanistan and respects the voice of the masses. Pakistan played a vital role in Afghan peace and will keep playing its positive role for sustainable peace in Afghanistan.
The international community and peace-loving individuals should stand-up to for the people of Afghanistan, who are not the people of lesser God and equal human beings.
