KABUL - The US President Joe Biden will meet with Mohammad Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation on Friday, the June 25th, at the White House to discuss the US troop withdrawal in the wake of an upswing in fighting between Afghan forces and the Taliban across the country, the White House announced on Sunday.
According to the White House’s statement, Biden will aim to reassure President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah of US commitment for the Afghan people, including diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian aid, in their first face-to-face encounter. Biden will also reiterate his determination to prevent the United States from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups.
In spite of the fact that US is fulfilling the obligations it has undertaken under the US-Taliban Agreement of February 29th 2020, the Taliban clearly appears to have forgotten abiding and effectuating their end of the bargain. The Taliban has overrun at least 30 districts across Afghanistan since Biden’s decision in April to draw out all US forces by September 11. Spreading bloodshed, unhesitatingly martyring Afghan forces’ young, committed troops, soaring terror, proves that there is nothing they are not incapable of.
This visit comes at a time when the negotiations between the Taliban and Afghan government representatives in Qatar are making little headway. Talks have not been substantively commenced as the Taliban have failed to submit a peace proposal.
Perhaps this is the time, President Ghani seeks reassurances from the United States to further contribute in its continued support the Afghan forces, after they US troops withdrawal, and also to pressurize the counterpart of the Afghan government to ceasefire and observe the provisions of the US-Taliban agreement to which they have already consented. (Khaama Press)