American President Joe Biden will hold a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday, the White House said in a statement indicating an “enduring partnership” between the two countries despite the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. Abdullah Abdullah, the chairperson of the High Council for National Reconciliation, will also attend the meeting.
The statement mentioned that the United States (US) remains committed to “supporting the Afghan people by providing diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian assistance” and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan government.
However, the Taliban’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, called the meeting “useless” and said it would only secure the leaders’ “power and personal interest” and not “benefit Afghanistan.”
The meeting comes amid a surge in violence in Afghanistan, with Afghan security forces and the Taliban clashes becoming increasingly frequent. Since the US decided to withdraw its troops, the Taliban has taken control over around 40 districts. On Sunday, the Taliban ambushed two provincial capitals, Kunduz city and Maimana, and forced government forces in the region to surrender. Following hours of clashes with security forces, the group took control of the cities’ entrances. However, Defence Ministry spokesperson Rohullah Ahmadzai said the troops are working to implement a “new, robust, and effective plan” to take back control of these districts.
To prepare for the US troops’ withdrawal and the rising attacks in Afghanistan, the Afghan government has replaced its Defence and Interior Ministers from the cabinet. General Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, a commander who fought the Taliban in the 1990s, will be the country’s Defence Minister, and General Sattar Mirzakwal will be taking up the position of Interior Minister.
Meanwhile, the Taliban and the Afghan government continue to engage in peace negotiations in Doha. On Sunday, the Taliban said that, while they remain committed to the success of the discussions, they were seeking to introduce a “genuine Islamic system”. The head of the Taliban’s political office, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, said they would ensure the safety of women, minorities, diplomats, and NGOs as per the system.
The meeting is the first after the US announced in April that it would withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. This drawdown of troops is likely to create a security vacuum in the war-torn country, leading to greater destabilisation, which would also negatively affect the security of Kabul’s neighbours.
US, Afghan Presidents to Meet as Attacks in Afghanistan Surge
The meeting comes amid a surge in violence in Afghanistan, with Afghan security forces and the Taliban clashes becoming increasingly frequent.
June 21, 2021
SOURCE: REUTERS