(HorizonPost.com) Since his inauguration, President Joe Biden has been working hard to undo President Donald Trump’s policies. Now, he’s trying to alter the agreement made to withdraw American military forces from Afghanistan by May 1 and install an interim government. President Ashraf Ghani is having none of it.
A letter from Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the United States wants to establish a “transitional peace government” in Afghanistan to include Taliban members. This proposal comes despite rejections by Ghani, who says only a popular election would be acceptable to the people — and he’s preparing a counter-offer to hold popular elections within six months. Ghani intends to present his counter-proposal at a meeting next month in Turkey.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will propose a new presidential election within six months, under a peace plan, he will put forward as a counter-offer to a US proposal that he rejectshttps://t.co/frtdnZAYAO
— WION (@WIONews) March 23, 2021
Blinken’s letter also contained a warning to the Afghani president. He advised that if the Americans keep to the original deadline without helping the Taliban and Afghanistan come to an agreement, “… the Taliban could make rapid territorial gains.” The Afghan government would like to keep US forces in the country to maintain stability over Taliban leaders’ objections.
For their part, Taliban leaders, including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, have already rejected Ghani’s proposal, according to AFP. Taliban leaders express little faith in popular elections because they say they have been prone to fraud and violence, among other problems.
The April stakeholder meeting in Turkey may hold negotiation opportunities, but the situation has remained in a stalemate since September of 2020. We’ll keep you updated as this story develops.
Copyright 2021, HorizonPost.com
