'Sudden US troop withdrawal is worsening situation': Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on August 2 said country’s deteriorating situation in face of Taliban's vancements is due to “sudden” decision of United States to withdraw its troops. However, Ghani also ded that his government h a plan to bring situation under control within a period of six months. With withdrawal of American troops, Taliban insurgents have moved into three provincial capitals in last few days. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has alrey announced that American soldiers would leave war-stricken country by September. 

In a speech to Afghan parliament, Ghani said, “ current situation is due to a sudden decision on withdrawal of international troops...We have h an unexpected situation in last three months."

He ded that Afghan government h a security plan in place to tackle situation within six months and that US supported plan. According to Ghani, extremist group would not have moved towards peace unless worsening security situation was curbed. Afghan government and Taliban insurgents started peace talks last year in Qatari capital of Doha. However, both sides failed to make any significant progress despite a few rounds of talks.  At a recent meeting in Doha between both delegations, sides committed to ramping up negotiations.

Ghani noted militants’ ties with terrorist groups

As per ANI, Ghani also noted that militants h not broken ties with terrorist groups and h even ramped up attacks on women and civil society activists. He ded that it was about time that Taliban and Afghan government accepted each or and moved towards a peaceful solution to crisis. However, Ghani’s accusations have been dismissed by insurgents. movement’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, said on Twitter, “Declarations of war, accusations and lies cannot prolong Ghani's government's life; his time has run out, God willing.”

Meanwhile, since capturing several new areas in Afghanistan, Taliban have re-imposed repressive laws and or retrogre policies on women that defined its iron fist rule from 1996 to 2001 including enforcing ir version of Islamic Sharia law. As per ANI, Frud Bezhan and Mustafa Sarwar wrote in Gandhara that re-imposition of such repressive measures on Afghan women is new brutal reality of tens of thousands of females who are presently living in areas, now captured by Taliban. 

IMAGE: AP