KABUL - The US forces in Afghanistan on Monday rejected as categorically false assertions made in an article in a Pakistani newspaper that the US is willing to cede Afghan territory as part of a rapprochement with the Haqqani network.
The forces also rejected that the US saw the Haqqanis playing an important role in the future political dispensation of Afghanistan.
The article published on Monday in The Express Tribune said the United States is eager to seek rapprochement with the group blamed for most of the deadliest attacks against the US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan.
Washington is willing not only to engage the group in talks but also to give it an important role in the future political dispensation of Afghanistan, the report quoted an unnamed senior American military official as saying.
He said the United States would hand over the control of three Afghan provinces to the Haqqanis if they agreed to withdraw their support for the Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan.
The official spoke to The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the subject publicly.
“These comments, attributed to a senior American military official are inconsistent with US policy,” a statement from Brig. Gen. Stephen Twitty, a spokesman for United States Forces-Afghanistan, said.
The Haqqani network is accused of orchestrating some of the most spectacular attacks on US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan and is also credited with introducing suicide bombings as a major tactic of their asymmetric warfare.
“Neither the Americans nor Pakistanis can completely defeat the Haqqani network,” explained the American military official, citing the reason behind America’s willingness for peace talks with the group.
“We are ready for talks – but the problem is that the Haqqanis are really not forthcoming,” he added. “Therefore, we have no option but to use force against them.”
However, the US forces spokesman said only the Afghan government had the authority to take political steps on behalf of the Afghan people. (Pajhwok)