Taliban could seize power when U.S. troops leave

U. S . President Donald Trump acknowledged the Taliban could “possibly” seize control of Afghanistan after the United States leaves as part of a peace deal signed last week.

“Eventually, countries have to take care of themselves,” the president told reporters Friday, adding that U. S. forces couldn’t stay in Afghanistan for another 20 years.

Hi s comments came hours after at least 32 people were killed at a political rally in Kabul, the deadliest assault in Afghanistan since the U. S. signed the withdrawal deal with the Taliban.

The attack, claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant — highlights a glaring lack of security in the Afghan capital just 14 months ahead of the scheduled withdrawal of foreign forces. It also calls into question a key element of the deal: whether the Taliban can prevent terrorist groups such as ISIL using Afghanistan as a base after U.S. forces pull out.

Trump framed the deal, signed in Doha last weekend, as a step toward the end of America’s almost 20- year presence in Afghanistan. It paves the way for the complete withdrawal of 13,000 U.S. troops as well as NATO’S forces, but is contingent on Taliban assurances not to allow Afghanistan to become a haven for international terrorists.

There were hopes the agreement would lead to a permanent ceasefire between the Afghan government and the Taliban, who are supposed to meet in Oslo next week, but discussions look likely to be delayed by a disagreement over a mass prisoner release.

T he U. S.- Taliban deal states that the Afghan government should release as many as 5,000 Taliban prisoners before the March 10 start date of the talks.

It’s believed the Taliban has continued to attack Afghan government positions after Ashraf Ghani, the president, rejected that commitment.

Trump admitted that the security of the U. S.- backed Afghan government was not guaranteed by the deal. A s ke d w h e t h e r he was afraid that a U. S. withdrawal would enable the Taliban to overrun the government, he responded: “I can’t answer that question. It’s not supposed to happen that way but it possibly will.

“We’ve been there for 20 years and we’ve been protecting the country but we can’t be there for the next — eventually they’re going to have to protect themselves.”

Mike Pompeo, the U. S. secretary of state, insisted that the administration sees a path “towards a peace and reconciliation opportunity”.

ISIL claimed responsibility for the mass shooting Friday, saying two brothers had targeted a “gathering of apostates” with machine guns and grenades.

The gunmen inflicted carnage at the crowded event in west Kabul, killing 32 people and injuring 81 others, a government spokesman said, adding that the death toll could rise. Two gunmen were killed by special forces units.