Taliban chief 'advises' US to be diplomatic to solve problems
Terrorism
Afghan Taliban chief Maulvi Hibatullah Akhundzada said on 23rd June that surge in foreign troops would not solve the Afghan problem, urging the Americans to adopt a diplomatic approach to resolve the issues in Afghanistan.
Hibatullah insisted that the US lost a great number of soldiers and wasted 16 years in the "meaningless war". "Don't ignore our history! The last 16 years, which you wasted on prolonging the meaningless war, accruing futile expenditures and tarnishing your military and political status can be sufficient enough for you. You lost a great number of your soldiers; martyred and handicapped the Afghans; destroyed their houses and other infrastructures and turned Afghanistan into virtual ruins."
He said that the Taliban have "a comprehensive policy to maintain constructive and good relations with you (US) and the world, including the neighbours, as per the principles" whenever the "illegitimate occupation of Afghanistan comes to an end".
The comments came amid reports that the US is most likely to deploy 4,000 additional troops that will increase the number of American troops to 12,400. Besides, 6,600 troops from other NATO countries are also present in Afghanistan.
In February, top US commander Gen John Nicholson sought a few thousand additional troops as the US and its NATO allies were facing a "stalemate".
As President Donald Trump's administration is set to announce its review for Afghanistan next month, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis told Congress this month that the US was "not winning" the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan, established by the United Nations Security Council in December 2001 by Resolution 1386, as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement. Its main purpose was to train the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and assist Afghanistan in rebuilding key government institutions, but was also engaged in the 2001–present war with the Taliban insurgency.
ISAF ceased combat operations and was disbanded in December 2014, with some troops remaining behind in an advisory role as part of ISAF's successor organization, the Resolute Support Mission.