Top US peace envoy reiterates support for Afghan forces

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - The top U.S. peace envoy on Monday reiterated Washington’s support for the Afghan security forces amid ongoing rejuvenated peace talks with the Taliban.

In a series of Twitter posts, Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, dismissed a media report quoting Taliban sources saying the proposed peace deal will not stop militants from attacking Afghan forces.

“No one should be intimidated or fooled by propaganda! Let me be clear: We will defend Afghan forces now and after any agreement w/ the Talibs [Taliban]. All sides agree Afghanistan’s future will be determined in intra-Afghan negotiations”, said the Afghanistan-born seasoned U.S. diplomat.

“A Reuters report quoting two unnamed Talib [Taliban] commanders alleges we will cease support of the Afghan forces as part of any agreement. Not true!,” Khalilzad added.

The Taliban have been holding peace talks with the U.S. for nearly a year but refuse to recognize or negotiate with the Afghan government.

The group’s Qatar office spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Anadolu Agency on Monday it was willing to talk with all Afghan sides.

"Of course, we will talk with all Afghan sides. That also includes the Afghan administration but it will be one of the sides and a party to the conflict, not as the government," Shaheen said.

Earlier this month, an array of local and international media reports suggested Washington proposes cutting the U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan by nearly half to 6,000 as a means of finalizing the proposed deal with the Taliban. However, Col. Sonny Leggett, spokesman for the U.S. Forces-Afghanistan rejected the reports.

Of the 14,000 U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan, 8,475 are assigned to the NATO-led Resolute Support mission “to train, advise, and assist Afghan security forces,” according to the U.S. Defense Department in March.

Last week, speculations surrounding the establishment of an interim government in Kabul overshadowed the first two days of talks in Doha that commenced on Friday.

Both the U.S. and Taliban rejected the idea of forming an interim government weeks ahead of the key presidential elections slated for Sept. 28.