There will be no peace in Afghanistan until there is a negotiated new government in Kabul and Afghan President Ashraf Gani resigns. Such a message was expressed by the Taliban spokesman Suhail Shahin.
Meanwhile, with the deteriorating security situation and escalating hostilities, US President Joe Biden has reaffirmed his readiness to continue to help Afghan security forces with more than $ 3 billion in funding.
More and more territory is coming under Taliban control
The security situation in Afghanistan in recent months significantly deteriorated. Since the start of the final phase of the withdrawal of foreign troops in early May, Taliban insurgents have occupied about half of Afghanistan’s territory and penetrated several provincial capitals, as well as strategically important border crossings.
Latvian Radio correspondent Rihards Plūme on the situation in Afghanistan
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And the Taliban are not going to step down. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shahin has said the Taliban will only lay down their arms when the current government of President Ashraf Ghana is no longer in power and a negotiated government acceptable to all parties in Kabul.
Shahin calls the president an instigator of war and says the Taliban do not believe in a monopoly of power because every government that has tried to monopolize power in Afghanistan in the past has not been successful.
The US promises help
The situation in the country was discussed by the President of Afghanistan Gani in a telephone conversation with the President of the United States Joe Baiden on Friday. The White House host has expressed readiness to continue to assist Afghan security forces, telling the White House that the administration has requested $ 3.3 billion from Congress for these purposes.
Biden and Ghana “agreed that the current Taliban attack was in direct conflict with the movement’s statements in support of a negotiated solution to the conflict.”
Of the $ 3.3 billion, one billion is to support the Afghan air force and other missions. Another billion will go to the purchase and supply of fuel, ammunition and spare parts, while $ 700 million will go to the salaries of Afghan soldiers.
It is technical assistance and support for the air force that is particularly important, Afghan politicians have said before. One third of the 150-unit fleet is no longer operational due to maintenance problems. Afghans have also run out of laser ammunition, which is important for targeting and reducing civilian casualties.
The flow of refugees is increasing
According to Haji Ajman Rahmani, a member of the Afghan parliament, the delivery of the necessary equipment and parts will take some time. The Americans are talking about about a year before it reaches Afghanistan, but help is very much needed at this critical time, the deputy stressed.
Significant deterioration of the security situation also creates a flow of refugees. Tajikistan expressed its readiness to host up to 100,000 refugees a few days ago. Meanwhile, Biden allowed up to $ 100 million to be used on Friday to deal with migration-related emergencies.
The United States will also support those applying for the State Department’s Special Immigrant Visa Program, under which some 20,000 Afghans have applied for evacuation, working as interpreters in the country and now fears Taliban revenge.
CONTEXT:
The Taliban regime was overthrown in 2001 when, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, a US-led international coalition invaded Al Qaeda. Since then, the Taliban have regularly attacked Afghan and foreign soldiers, but the civilian population has suffered the most.
US President Joe Biden is determined to complete the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan until 31 August 2021.
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