US President Donald Trump on Friday raised the possibility that Taliban insurgents will regain power after US forces withdraw from Afghanistan.
“It is not supposed to happen, but this is a possibility,” Trump said.
Trump stressed from the White House that states should “take responsibility for themselves”, considering that ultimately the Afghan government must guarantee its own security.
“We cannot stay there for the next twenty years…
We cannot hold one’s hand forever,” he added.
On Saturday, the United States and the Taliban insurgents signed an agreement in Doha that opens the way for a full withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan within 14 months, provided that the Taliban abides by its pledges to combat terrorism and the Afghan internal dialogue.
After a week of “generally reduced violence” and imposed by Washington as a precondition for signing the agreement, the Taliban resumed their attacks against Afghan forces.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that “the renewal of” this violence was “unacceptable.”
The deteriorating situation raises concerns about the unprecedented direct peace negotiations between the rebels and the Afghan government, due to begin on 10 March.
“The violence must be reduced immediately so the peace process can move forward,” Pompeo said.
