Taliban vow to continue fighting in Afghanistan

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) – The Taliban on Sunday warned the U.S. of consequences after President Donald Trump abruptly called off peace talks with the group over a recent deadly bombing in the capital Kabul.

A statement issued by the Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, warned the group would continue with the fighting.

Blaming the U.S. and the Afghan security forces for killing dozens of Afghans, the Taliban labelled scraping of the peace talks as ‘inexperience and lack of patience’ on the part of President Trump. It added the U.S. would eventually return to the agreement.

Hours after U.S. President Donald Trump called off peace talks with the Taliban, his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani announced real peace was only possible if the insurgents agreed to a ceasefire and direct talks with the government.

The Afghan president said the Kabul government praises the earnest efforts of its allies and is committed to working together with the United States and other partners to ensure honorable and enduring peace in the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said Taliban leaders and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani were separately coming to the U.S. on Saturday night to meet him at Camp David, Maryland, but Trump said he had canceled the meeting.

"Unfortunately, in order to build false leverage, they admitted to an attack in Kabul that killed one of our great great soldiers, and 11 other people," Trump said in a tweet.

Taliban claimed responsibility for Thursday's bombing in the east of Kabul that killed 12 people.

"If they cannot agree to a cease-fire during these very important peace talks, and would even kill 12 innocent people, then they probably don’t have the power to negotiate a meaningful agreement anyway," said Trump.