Kabul: In the past 24 hours, 36 people have been killed in clashes between the Afghan army and the Taliban. Hours before the conflict, the Taliban made it clear that no ceasefire had been imposed in Afghanistan. Also, a Taliban spokesman threatened to retaliate if the United States did not withdraw from Afghanistan before May 1. Under such circumstances, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Afghanistan on Sunday following a visit to India.
The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) have launched operations against the Taliban in four provinces of the country. Afghan security forces killed 35 Taliban militants on Saturday. Also, an Afghan security personnel was killed. Apart from that, 31 Talibans are reported to have been injured in the clashes. Earlier on Friday, the Afghan army arrested seven Taliban militants in operation in Paktia province, which shares borders with neighbouring Pakistan.
On Sunday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani justified his military action. “Has anyone given the Taliban the right to kill their Afghan brothers and sisters?” Ghani questioned sternly. President Ghani called on the Taliban to first stop the violence and then participate in the peace talks. Previously, the Afghan president had reminded the Taliban of the ceasefire with the United States. However, the Taliban say they have not agreed to a ceasefire.
On Saturday, Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said to reporters in the Pakistani capital Islamabad that ‘The Taliban had agreed that all groups involved in the Afghanistan conflict should reduce violence, but we never discussed a ceasefire.’ Naeem also said that if the Taliban came to power, Islamic rule would be re-established in Afghanistan.
Taliban commander Suhail Shaheen, who is in negotiations with the United States, has warned Western nations to leave Afghanistan. “By May 1, the US and NATO forces must withdraw completely from Afghanistan. If a Western soldier is seen in Afghanistan after this period, it will be termed a violation of the agreement and receive the appropriate response from us,’ Shaheen threatened.
Over the past year, the Taliban targeted Afghan soldiers, administrative officials and teachers while carrying out attacks in the country. A leading Qatari news channel claimed that the Taliban had threatened to target US and NATO troops if its demands were not met.
Under such circumstances, US Secretary of Defense Austin arrived in Afghanistan on Sunday. US President Joe Biden has rejected the Taliban’s May 1 deadline. Biden had announced that US troops would not withdraw from Afghanistan until the Taliban deadline. The United States has said it is working with Russia, Pakistan, Iran and India to resolve Afghanistan’s conflict.
Russia and Iran have demanded that the United States withdraw from Afghanistan as decided. India, however, is worried that Afghanistan will fall into the hands of the Taliban after the US withdrawal.
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