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The cat is out of the bag: Foreign troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond May deadline: Nato officials

Dalit

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International troops plan to stay in Afghanistan beyond the May deadline envisaged by the Taliban’s deal with the United States, four senior officials of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) said — a move that could escalate tensions with the Taliban demanding full withdrawal.

“There will be no full withdrawal by allies by April-end,” one of the officials told Reuters.

“Conditions have not been met,” he said, on condition of anonymity, because of the sensitivity of the matter. “And with the new US administration, there will be tweaks in the policy, the sense of hasty withdrawal which was prevalent will be addressed and we could see a much more calculated exit strategy.”

The administration of then-President Donald Trump signed an agreement with the Taliban early last year, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops by May in return for the insurgents fulfilling certain security guarantees.

Trump hailed the accord — which did not include the Afghan government — as the end of two decades of war. He reduced US troops to 2,500 by this month, the fewest since 2001.

Plans on what will happen after April are now being considered and likely to be a top issue at a key Nato meeting in February, the Nato sources said.

The Nato's positions are becoming increasingly important after the alliance was sidelined by Trump, diplomats and experts say.

Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban began in September in Doha, but violence has remained high.

“No Nato ally wants to stay in Afghanistan longer than necessary, but we have been clear that our presence remains conditions-based,” said Nato spokeswoman Oana Lungescu. “Allies continue to assess the overall situation and to consult on the way forward.”

She said about 10,000 troops, including Americans, are in Afghanistan. Those levels are expected to stay roughly the same until after May, but the plan beyond that is not clear, the Nato source said.

Kabul and some foreign governments and agencies say the Taliban has failed to meet conditions due to escalated violence and a failure to cut ties with militant groups such as Al Qaeda, which the Taliban denies.

The administration of Joe Biden, who replaced Trump on Jan 20, has launched a review of his predecessor’s peace agreement.

A Pentagon spokesman said the Taliban have not met their commitments but Washington remained committed to the process and had not decided on future troop levels.

A State Department representative said Biden was committed to bringing a “responsible end to the ‘forever wars’ ... while also protecting Americans from terrorist and other threats.”

Afghanistan’s presidential palace did not respond to a request for comment.

Rising concern
The Taliban have become increasingly concerned in recent weeks about the possibility that Washington might change aspects of the agreement and keep troops in the country beyond May, two Taliban sources told Reuters.

“We conveyed our apprehensions, but they assured us of honouring and acting on the Doha accord. What’s going on, on the ground in Afghanistan, is showing something else. And that’s why we decided to send our delegations to take our allies into confidence,” said a Taliban leader in Doha.

A Taliban delegation this week visited Iran and Russia, and the leader said they were contacting China.

Although informal meetings have been taking place between negotiators in Doha, progress has stalled in recent weeks after an almost one-month break, according to negotiators and diplomats.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters the insurgents remained committed to the peace process.

“No doubt that if the Doha deal is not implemented there will be consequences, and the blame will be upon that side which does not honour the deal,” he said. “Our expectations are also that Nato will think to end this war and avoid more excuses for prolonging the war in Afghanistan.”

Nato and Washington will have a challenge getting the Taliban to agree to an extension beyond May.

If the situation remains unclear, the Taliban may increase attacks, possibly once again on international forces, said Ashley Jackson, co-director of the Centre for the Study of Armed Groups at the British think tank ODI.

The lack of a resolution “gives voice to spoilers inside the Taliban who never believed the US would leave willingly, and who have pushed for a ratcheting up of attacks even after the US-Taliban deal was agreed,” she said.

A Feb 17-18 meeting of Nato defence ministers will be a chance for a newly empowered NATO to determine how the process would be shaped, said one source, a senior European diplomat.

“With the new administration coming in there will be a more cooperative result, Nato countries will have a say.”


Something that we already knew, but is it official now. Pakistan needs to step back and let the US/NATO bulwark know that breaking the deal has shattered confidence. It has consequences. Pakistan won't facilitate future talks.

As suggested earlier, Pakistan should sit down with important regional actors such as China and Russia. The goal should be to have a regional roadmap and exclude US/NATO. The US/NATO are back to their treachery of empowering India in Afghanistan.
 
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Well then, expect a bloodbath in Kabul. America is going bleed like it has never bled before. It would make Vietnam War look like a children's playground.

Didn't expect these liars to ever make good on their promise. Trump, Biden, Obama, Bush .... All the same scum-slaves of the zionists.
 
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Well they expect a bloodbath in Kabul. America is going bleed like it has never bled before. It make Vietnam War look like a children's playground.

Didn't expect these liars to ever make good on their promise. Trump, Biden, Obama, Bush .... All the same scum-slaves of the zionists.

That is the US deep state. Breaking deals and lying is their occupation.
 
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such treachery , crookedry , expect lots of knickers getting twisted.
Oh well.:coffee:
 
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International troops plan to stay in Afghanistan beyond the May deadline envisaged by the Taliban’s deal with the United States, four senior officials of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) said — a move that could escalate tensions with the Taliban demanding full withdrawal.

“There will be no full withdrawal by allies by April-end,” one of the officials told Reuters.

“Conditions have not been met,” he said, on condition of anonymity, because of the sensitivity of the matter. “And with the new US administration, there will be tweaks in the policy, the sense of hasty withdrawal which was prevalent will be addressed and we could see a much more calculated exit strategy.”

The administration of then-President Donald Trump signed an agreement with the Taliban early last year, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops by May in return for the insurgents fulfilling certain security guarantees.

Trump hailed the accord — which did not include the Afghan government — as the end of two decades of war. He reduced US troops to 2,500 by this month, the fewest since 2001.

Plans on what will happen after April are now being considered and likely to be a top issue at a key Nato meeting in February, the Nato sources said.

The Nato's positions are becoming increasingly important after the alliance was sidelined by Trump, diplomats and experts say.

Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban began in September in Doha, but violence has remained high.

“No Nato ally wants to stay in Afghanistan longer than necessary, but we have been clear that our presence remains conditions-based,” said Nato spokeswoman Oana Lungescu. “Allies continue to assess the overall situation and to consult on the way forward.”

She said about 10,000 troops, including Americans, are in Afghanistan. Those levels are expected to stay roughly the same until after May, but the plan beyond that is not clear, the Nato source said.

Kabul and some foreign governments and agencies say the Taliban has failed to meet conditions due to escalated violence and a failure to cut ties with militant groups such as Al Qaeda, which the Taliban denies.

The administration of Joe Biden, who replaced Trump on Jan 20, has launched a review of his predecessor’s peace agreement.

A Pentagon spokesman said the Taliban have not met their commitments but Washington remained committed to the process and had not decided on future troop levels.

A State Department representative said Biden was committed to bringing a “responsible end to the ‘forever wars’ ... while also protecting Americans from terrorist and other threats.”

Afghanistan’s presidential palace did not respond to a request for comment.

Rising concern
The Taliban have become increasingly concerned in recent weeks about the possibility that Washington might change aspects of the agreement and keep troops in the country beyond May, two Taliban sources told Reuters.

“We conveyed our apprehensions, but they assured us of honouring and acting on the Doha accord. What’s going on, on the ground in Afghanistan, is showing something else. And that’s why we decided to send our delegations to take our allies into confidence,” said a Taliban leader in Doha.

A Taliban delegation this week visited Iran and Russia, and the leader said they were contacting China.

Although informal meetings have been taking place between negotiators in Doha, progress has stalled in recent weeks after an almost one-month break, according to negotiators and diplomats.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters the insurgents remained committed to the peace process.

“No doubt that if the Doha deal is not implemented there will be consequences, and the blame will be upon that side which does not honour the deal,” he said. “Our expectations are also that Nato will think to end this war and avoid more excuses for prolonging the war in Afghanistan.”

Nato and Washington will have a challenge getting the Taliban to agree to an extension beyond May.

If the situation remains unclear, the Taliban may increase attacks, possibly once again on international forces, said Ashley Jackson, co-director of the Centre for the Study of Armed Groups at the British think tank ODI.

The lack of a resolution “gives voice to spoilers inside the Taliban who never believed the US would leave willingly, and who have pushed for a ratcheting up of attacks even after the US-Taliban deal was agreed,” she said.

A Feb 17-18 meeting of Nato defence ministers will be a chance for a newly empowered NATO to determine how the process would be shaped, said one source, a senior European diplomat.

“With the new administration coming in there will be a more cooperative result, Nato countries will have a say.”


Something that we already knew, but is it official now. Pakistan needs to step back and let the US/NATO bulwark know that breaking the deal has shattered confidence. It has consequences. Pakistan won't facilitate future talks.

As suggested earlier, Pakistan should sit down with important regional actors such as China and Russia. The goal should be to have a regional roadmap and exclude US/NATO. The US/NATO are back to their treachery of empowering India in Afghanistan.

great news , we will continue our fight against terrorists .
Well they expect a bloodbath in Kabul. America is going bleed like it has never bled before. It make Vietnam War look like a children's playground.

Didn't expect these liars to ever make good on their promise. Trump, Biden, Obama, Bush .... All the same scum-slaves of the zionists.
I am pretty sure Pak has been fully ready for that....

Now is the time to kill all RAW agents inside Afganistan without any discrimination! Every Indian and NA thug are potential agents....
such tracery , crookedry , expect lots of knickers getting twisted.
Oh well.:coffee:
That is the US deep state. Breaking deals and lying is their occupation.
Well they expect a bloodbath in Kabul. America is going bleed like it has never bled before. It make Vietnam War look like a children's playground.

Didn't expect these liars to ever make good on their promise. Trump, Biden, Obama, Bush .... All the same scum-slaves of the zionists.


i see pakistanis are disappointed :omghaha::omghaha::omghaha:
 
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great news , we will continue our fight against terrorists .







i see pakistanis are disappointed :omghaha::omghaha::omghaha:

The Americans have broken the deal. The US/NATO nexus doesn't have any credibility after this debacle. We will keep them shackled for another century. China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan are all on board. It is not my country who spent a trillion dollars on a failed war LOL What can India do for US deep state in Afghanistan? LOL Fight and fight until you perish.

Bring it on.
 
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That's how it goes. The "Biden" (it's not really him making any decisions) admin will reverse Trump's Iran and Climate deal and make things worse in Afghanistan, and probably ratchet up tensions with the DRPK.

Sort of works for India, though, the Afghan bit.
 
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The Americans have broken the deal. The US/NATO nexus doesn't have any credibility after this debacle. We will keep them shackled for another century. China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan are all on board. It is not my country who spent a trillion dollars on a failed war LOL What can India do for US deep state in Afghanistan? LOL Fight and fight until you perish.

Bring it on.

no deal isd a deal with a terrorist organization like suicide blaster taliban ,
The Americans have broken the deal. The US/NATO nexus doesn't have any credibility after this debacle. We will keep them shackled for another century. China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan are all on board. It is not my country who spent a trillion dollars on a failed war LOL What can India do for US deep state in Afghanistan? LOL Fight and fight until you perish.

Bring it on.

slowly slowly you will accept what america brings for you .
 
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no deal isd a deal with a terrorist organization like suicide blaster taliban ,


slowly slowly you will accept what america brings for you .

We will see. We are ready to confront the US deep state for another 100 years. So are our regional allies Russia, China and Iran. We all share the same objective. Humiliation of our enemy. You are on the losing end. We will prove it to you and papa deep state.

LOL as soon as you hear the US deep state plead Pakistan to do more you know we have them by their neck.

To Hindustan and Modi, bring your forces to Afghanistan to help your allies LOL
 
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great news , we will continue our fight against terrorists .







i see pakistanis are disappointed :omghaha::omghaha::omghaha:
As if 5k or 10K troops will yield your much desired result and Biden knows it. Biden administration will have to commit a lot more resources to sustain this war and will have to answer the body bags that will coming to USA. We are not disappointed for we knew what is coming to Afghanistan.
 
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We will see. We are ready to confront the US deep state for another 100 years. So are our regional allies Russia, China and Iran. We all share the same objective. Humiliation of our enemy. You are on the losing end. We will prove it to you and papa deep state.

LOL as soon as you hear the US deep state plead Pakistan to do more you know we have them by their neck.

To Hindustan and Modi, bring your forces to Afghanistan to help your allies LOL

poor nations should avoid challenging super power america .
 
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poor nations should avoid challenging super power america .

LOL ask super power why it blames poor nations for their demise in Afghanistan.

You think we haven't seen this treachery before? Think again. There is always a plan B. The deep state is going to cry rivers in weeks and months to come.
 
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USA always intended to keep some sort of covert counter terrorism presence in Afghanistan, that's why there were secret annex's to the already agreed to USA Taliban deal. What's interesting about Biden regimes language so far has been largely counter terror oriented.....no more nation building. USA must extradite itself from this forever war as much as possible.

Al-Qaeda has already been destroyed in its original form...mission accomplished. USA should keep some sort of covert counter terror force in the area but it does not need to be overtly visible in Afghanistan or should be largely housed on naval ships. Kinetic actions using air strikes or covert spec ops should be taken as needed against any emergent Al-Qaeda types (something missing in the 90's).

If Kabul and Taliban want to keep fighting that's not a major issue for USA national security. Best of luck.
 
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