Afghan Taliban leaders are in Quetta and Peshawar alleges Gen Nicholson

In an interview with TOLO news, Commander for US Forces and NATO in Afghanistan General John W Nicholson said the Trump administration is “aware of presence of the Afghan Taliban leadership in Quetta and Peshawar”. This interview comes just two days after Nicholson addressed a press conference in Kabul and said the Taliban has become a “criminal organization that is more interested in profits from drugs, kidnapping and murder for hire.” He called on the group to lay down their arms and end the war.

Nicholson said he is “primarily focused on activities inside Afghanistan” but the issue of ‘sanctuaries’ was being addressed in ‘private’ between Pakistan and US governments.

“The Quetta Shura, Peshawar Shura – these shuras are identified by cities inside Pakistan, we know Afghan Taliban leaders are in these areas,” he added.

Dwelling on the security situation in Afghanistan, the military general said the US will keep increasing pressure on Taliban inside and outside the country. “It is our mandate to put military pressure on Taliban,” he said, adding, “Taliban need to know they cannot win militarily.”

In terms of developing the military, he said the Special Forces will be doubled and with the growth of the Afghan air force the Taliban will lose. He said these Special Forces’ commandos have never lost a battle against the Taliban and with an expanded force they will retake the majority of territory either outside government’s control or territory that is being contested.

He said as these forces expand their control, coupled with pressure on external sanctuaries, the Taliban will get to a point where it realizes it cannot win militarily and will have to enter into a reconciliation process.

Following Trump's speech last Monday, relations between Islamabad and Washington have become tense.

A day after Trump accused Pakistan of duplicity; Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had warned Pakistan that it could lose its status as a privileged military ally if it continues giving 'safe haven' to Afghan militant groups. Tillerson had claimed that Washington has "leverage" over Pakistan, "a non-Nato ally" that has been receiving US aid.

US Ambassador David Hale held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa to brief them on the new policy.

Who the John Nicholson is?

John William Nicholson Jr. is a highly decorated United States Army four-star general who has commanded U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) and the Resolute Support Mission since March 2016, succeeding General John F. Campbell. He was previously commanding general, Allied Land Command from October 2014 and commander of the 82nd Airborne Division. Nicholson told the Senate Armed Services Committee in 2016 that "Since 9/11, the U.S. campaign in Afghanistan has largely defined my service." Nicholson was given command of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, amid a worsening security situation.

What is Quetta Shura?

The Quetta Shura is a militant organization which is composed of the leaders of the Afghan Taliban, and believed to be based, since about 2001, within the city of Quetta in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. The Shura was formed at a time after the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was toppled as part of events occurring during late 2001, the senior leadership at the time, including Mullah Mohammed Omar, proceeding to escape into Pakistan. In February 2010, several of the key members of the Quetta Shura, who were dispersed within a variety of cities and towns of Pakistan, were detained by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Pakistan proceeded to agree to repatriate these individuals to Afghanistan, if they were found to have not committed crimes within the boundaries of the Pakistani nation.