Trump Wants All Troops Out Of Afghanistan By 2020 U.S. Election: Reports

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Donald Trump

Donald Trump

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
August 3, 2019

U.S. President Donald Trump has told aides that he wants to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan before the presidential election in November 2020, U.S. news agencies are reporting, citing unnamed current and former administration officials.

The latest reports on August 2 come after U.S. media cited unnamed sources as saying the United States is ready to withdraw a large number of troops from Afghanistan in exchange for Taliban guarantees to start direct negotiations with Kabul on ending the nearly 18-year war.

The Washington Post and CNN cited sources as saying that the number of soldiers would go down from 14,000 to 8,000-9,000 as part of a peace deal to end the conflict.

Washington has said it wants a peace deal finalized with the Taliban by September 1.

Later on August 2, NBC News reported that presidential advisers are scrambling to meet Trump’s election-year deadline to withdraw all troops.

A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on military planning but said U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan are based on conditions on the ground.

When asked directly about troops in Afghanistan, Trump on August 2 did not cite a specific number but told reporters that “we’re reducing it.”

“We’ve been there for 19 years. We’re really serving as policemen. We could win Afghanistan in two days or three days or four days if we wanted, but I’m not looking to kill 10 million people.”

The remarks echoed those made by Trump on July 22 following a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House. Trump at the time told reporters that “If we wanted to fight a war in Afghanistan and win it, I could win that war in a week. I just don’t want to kill 10 million people.”

The comments angered Afghan officials, who demanded an explanation from the White House.

The war in Afghanistan has intensified in recent weeks as both Afghan forces and Taliban militants attempt to increase their leverage in ongoing peace talks. Taliban militants now control or influence about half of Afghanistan’s territory.

U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad is set to begin a fresh round of talks with the Taliban in the Qatari capital of Doha in the next few days.

He has held eight rounds of peace talks so far, with both sides saying they have made significant progress on several components of a peace deal.

Taliban negotiators, however, have refused to meet with Kabul government officials, whom they regard as U.S. puppets.

According to a report released by the United Nations on July 31, 1,366 civilians were killed and 2,446 wounded during the first six months of 2019 in Afghanistan.

With reporting by AFP, NBC, and The Washington Post

Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

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Foreign Meddling: US, Taliban Seek to Make Afghan Election Irrelevant

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Taliban negotiator Stankezai (left) and Zalmay Khalilzad (right)

Taliban negotiator Stankezai (left) and Zalmay Khalilzad (right)

Michael Hughes:  In 2003, then-U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad, with the full backing of the CIA, rendered Afghanistan’s Loya Jirga to a farce by strong-arming aside King Zahir Shah and anointing as president State Department darling Hamid Karzai. Now Zalmay, as special U.S. envoy, is once again guilty of foreign election interference and colluding with Karzai to rig yet another Afghan presidential election.

Khalilzad and Taliban negotiators, who are about to start yet another round of talks in Doha, hope to reach a troop withdrawal agreement by September 1 ahead of Afghanistan’s presidential election which is slated to take place on September 28.

In a July 31 interview with RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi, however, Khalilzad found the nerve to say that Afghanistan should not hold the election until the negotiations are completed.

Click here to read more.

Reports: U.S. To Withdraw Thousands Of Troops From Afghanistan

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us_military

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
August 2, 2019

The United States is ready to withdraw a large number of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in exchange for Taliban guarantees to start direct negotiations with Kabul on ending the nearly 18-year war in Afghanistan, U.S. media reported on August 1.

The Washington Post and CNN cited unnamed sources as saying that the number of soldiers would go down from 14,000 to 8,000-9,000 as part of a peace deal to end the conflict.

To date, the Taliban has refused to negotiate with the Kabul government, calling it a “puppet regime.”

Other measures include a personnel reduction at the U.S. Embassy and cuts in security personnel, CNN reported.

Speaking to RFE/RL on July 31, U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said there were four key issues for a comprehensive peace agreement: the withdrawal of foreign troops, a Taliban guarantee to prevent terrorist attacks, intra-Afghan dialogue leading to a political settlement, and a permanent cease-fire.

In acknowledging the delicate situation, he has stressed that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”

In anticipation of Washington being close to agreeing an agreement with the Taliban, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Peace Affairs announced on July 31 that it had appointed a 15-member delegation to negotiate with the militant group.

Khalilzad is set to begin a fresh round of talks with the Taliban in the Qatari capital of Doha in the next few days.

He has held eight rounds of peace talks so far, with both sides saying they have made significant progress on several components of a peace deal.

The United States has set a tentative September 1 deadline for the peace deal, ahead of Afghanistan’s scheduled presidential elections later that month.

However, some U.S. officials have privately floated the possibility that the vote could be canceled in the event of a peace settlement and the formation of an interim government that the Taliban would join.

There is support for this among the Taliban and Afghan opposition figures, but President Ashraf Ghani has strongly rejected it.

With reporting by CNN, dpa, and The Washington Post

Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

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At Least 10 Afghan Police Killed In Taliban Attack On Security Checkpoint

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fireRadio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
August 2, 2019

Local officials say at least 10 Afghan police officers have been killed in a Taliban attack on a checkpoint in central Daikundi Province.

Governor Anwar Rahmati also reported that 15 policemen were wounded in the August 2 attack in the district of Pato. He said the Taliban militants suffered an unspecified number of casualties.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yusouf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the attack but gave no further details.

The latest violence comes as the Taliban militants prepare to meet U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad for another round of talks on finding a peaceful resolution to the nearly 18-year war.

The Taliban refuse to negotiate directly with the Kabul government as they consider it to be under the control of Washington.

The United States is willing to withdraw a large number of U.S. troops from Afghanistan if the Taliban agrees to start direct negotiations with the Kabul government, U.S. media reported on August 1.

Based on reporting by AP and TOLOnews

Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

Other Security News

Taliban bomb attack kills two policemen in Kabul

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Taliban militants (file photo)

Taliban militants (file photo)

Press TV
August 1, 2019

A bomb blast, claimed by the Taliban militant group, has killed at least two policemen at a checkpoint in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

The fatalities took place early on Thursday when a bomb placed close to a police check post in the Panjsad-Family district of Kabul was detonated, according to a statement released by the Afghan Ministry of the Interior.

The statement said that three policemen were also wounded in the blast.

Taliban claimed responsibly for the deadly attack, according to the ministry.

The checkpoint blast came a day after a roadside bomb attack, also blamed on the Taliban, left at least 34 people dead in the Western province of Farah.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001. While the invasion ended the Taliban’s rule in the country, it has failed to eliminate the militant group. The Daesh terrorist group has also emerged in the Asian country more recently.

The US has been attempting to negotiate a so-called peace deal with the Taliban militant group, which targets mostly Afghan civilians and security forces.

The Afghan government is left out of the talks between the Taliban and the US. The Taliban say they don’t recognize the Kabul government and that they will not hold talks with it unless all foreign forces exit the country.

About 20,000 foreign troops, mostly Americans, are based in Afghanistan.

Hamid Karzai opposes election before peace

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Karzai (left) and Ghani (right)

Karzai (left) and Ghani (right)

1TV: Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai on Thursday expressed opposition to holding presidential election before reaching a peace deal with the Taliban. Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, Karzai called on candidates to withdraw.  At the conference, Karzai rejected the idea of forming an interim government. He said that he had told Ghani to continue as president until peace. Click here to read more (external link).

Other Election Related News

Interview: U.S. Envoy Backs Afghan Presidential Election If No Peace Deal

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Khalilzad

Khalilzad

By RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan
August 1, 2019

KABUL — The U.S. peace envoy seeking to negotiate an end to the nearly 18-year war in Afghanistan said peace negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban will determine whether the presidential election slated for September 28 is held.

In an interview with RFE/RL in the Afghan capital on July 31, Zalmay Khalilzad said the vote “depends on the outcome of the negotiations among the Afghans.”

“We support any outcome that is reached,” said Khalilzad, a veteran diplomat and a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan. “But until that outcome is reached, we support [holding] the election.”

U.S. officials have privately floated the possibility that the vote could be canceled in the event of a peace settlement and the formation of an interim government that the Taliban would join. There is support among the Taliban and Afghan opposition figures, but President Ashraf Ghani has strongly rejected it.

U.S. officials have said they hope to reach a peace agreement by September 1.

Khalilzad has held eight rounds of peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar, with both sides saying they have made significant progress on several components of a peace deal. But the Afghan government has been left out of the negotiations, with the Taliban refusing to deal with what they call a “U.S. puppet.”

Key Issues

Khalilzad has said a comprehensive peace agreement will cover four key issues: the withdrawal of foreign troops, a Taliban guarantee to prevent terrorist attacks from Afghanistan, inter-Afghan dialogue leading to a political settlement, and a permanent cease-fire. In acknowledging the delicate situation, he has stressed that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”

Khalilzad, who was in Kabul for the past nine days for talks with Afghans, said his visit was “the most productive” since he was made a special envoy in September last year.

“We have reached an agreement with the Afghan government about the next steps towards reaching an agreement with the Taliban and towards peace,” he said.

In a Twitter post on July 31, Khalilzad said he was off for another round of talks with the militants, and “if the Taliban do their part, we will do ours, and conclude the agreement we have been working on.”

A bilateral U.S.-Taliban agreement to come first covers the withdrawal of foreign forces in exchange for guarantees by the Taliban not to harbor terrorist groups.

That deal will be a prelude to intra-Afghan peace negotiations on a political settlement and a permanent cease-fire.

The Taliban has said it will only negotiate with Kabul when Washington commits to withdrawing its troops.

‘Positive Steps’

Khalilzad stressed that the internationally-backed Kabul government would be only one actor in the intra-Afghan talks, alongside senior opposition leaders, civil society members, and women.

“A negotiating team representing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is being finalized,” said Khalilzad. “At the same time, a technical team that would support the negotiation team is being finalized. These are positive steps.”

In expectations that Washington was close to agreeing an agreement with the Taliban, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Peace Affairs announced on July 31 that it had appointed a 15-member delegation to negotiate with the Taliban.

It was unclear where those talks would be held, although reports said it could be in a European country.

Khalilzad also defended remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said on July 22 that “If we wanted to fight a war in Afghanistan and win it, I could win that war in a week. I just don’t want to kill 10 million people.”

The controversial remarks prompted anger in Afghanistan, where the government demanded that Trump clarify his comments.

Khalilzad said what the president meant was that “war is not the solution and a lot of people will be killed if we continue the war.”

“I think [Trump’s] intention is to solve the Afghanistan problem — and that’s why he appointed me — through a peaceful way. Peace is the priority,” he said.

When asked why the war in Afghanistan had dragged on for almost 18 years, Khalilzad said some local and international actors were against peace.

“There are some who benefit from the continuation of the war and take advantage of the war,” he said.

U.S. and Afghan officials have long accused Pakistan of supporting the Taliban. Russia and Iran have also established contacts with the militant group.

On Pakistan, Khalilzad said he had witnessed a “positive change” in its policies toward Afghanistan, its western neighbor.

“They want to help,” said Khalilzad, referring to Islamabad. “But we always want Pakistan to take further steps.”

Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

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Value of VPNs for Internet Access in Afghanistan

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Virtual private networks are indispensable for cybersecurity, and they deliver many other advantages. Here is an overview of the tools and the advantages they deliver. If you go onto the web from Afghanistan, you will recognize the value.

Each service includes its own set of options, so the additional features may vary. To select the best software providers, check expert review sites, such as Bestvpnrating and others. Although the features vary, the basic principle stays the same – it masks your actual location and encrypts the session. Here is why you need to do it.

vpn1

  1. Data Protection

Once you go online, your private information may be compromised. A hacker may sneak onto your network and steal any data you transfer – be it payment details or anything else. An encrypted connection, however, prevents such undesirable consequences. 

  1. Downloads

It is also essential to use a VPN for downloading. Whatever you download, it may be tracked by authorities or malicious users based on your IP address. With this tool, however, you may download anything while remaining perfectly anonymous.

  1. Accessing Geo-blocked Services

Sometimes, you may find out that the service you need blocks Afghan users from opening it. Whether it is social networks, video hosting sites, or media channels, you may still gain access via a private network. As it replaces your IP address, the real geolocation is undetected. 

To a site owner, it looks as if you are from some other country or continent – you may select any location you like from those your provider offers. The flow of information, therefore, will not be hindered. 

vpn2

Hence, the benefits are clear. Users of the Internet in Afghanistan should understand the importance of Internet privacy and apply reliable tools to stop their details from getting leaked.