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Tillerson: US supports Afghan peace talks that result in Taliban 'legitimacy' Tillerson vows Afghan peace talks to make Taliban ‘legitimate’ while Trump hesitates
(about 9 hours later)
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the US is ready to help negotiate a peace deal between Taliban militants and the Afghan government that would give the Taliban "political legitimacy." Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the new Afghanistan strategy may pave way for a peace deal between Taliban militants and the Afghan government, bringing them “legitimacy,” while the US leader does not consider it possible in the nearest future.
“Our new strategy breaks from previous approaches that set artificial, calendar-based deadlines,” Tillerson said in a statement following US President Donald Trump's speech on a new Afghanistan strategy on Monday evening.
"Our new strategy breaks from previous approaches that set artificial calendar-based deadlines. We are making clear to the Taliban that they will not win on the battlefield. The Taliban has a path to peace and political legitimacy through a negotiated political settlement to end the war," Tillerson said in a statement following President Donald Trump's remarks on the war in Afghanistan on Monday evening. “We are making clear to the Taliban that they will not win on the battlefield,” he warned, calling on the militants to come to the negotiating table.
"We stand ready to support peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban without preconditions," the secretary of state continued. "We look to the international community, particularly Afghanistan's neighbors, to join us in supporting an Afghan peace process." “The Taliban has a path to peace and political legitimacy through a negotiated political settlement to end the war. We stand ready to support peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban without preconditions,” Tillerson stated.
"Pakistan has suffered greatly from terrorism and can be an important partner in our shared goals of peace and stability in the region," Tillerson said. Meanwhile, Trump was not so optimistic over talks with the Taliban. While acknowledging that negotiations are possible, he does see them coming in the nearest future.
"We look to Pakistan to take a decisive action against militant groups based in Pakistan that are a threat to the region," he said. "It is vital to US interests that Afghanistan and Pakistan prevent terrorist sanctuaries." “Someday, after an effective military effort, perhaps it will be possible to have a political settlement that includes elements of the Taliban in Afghanistan, but nobody knows if or when that will ever happen,” Trump stated.
Tillerson added: "India will be an important partner in the effort to ensure peace and stability in the region, and we welcome its role in supporting Afghanistan's political and economic modernization." However, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid dismissed Trump's remarks on Afghanistan, saying they were “old” and “unclear,” the Associated Press reported.
Taliban seize control of strategic hub in northern Afghanistan (VIDEO) “If America doesn't withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, soon Afghanistan will become another graveyard for this superpower in the 21st century,” the spokesman said, as cited by Press TV.
On Monday, Tillerson spoke on the phone with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to discuss South Asia strategy. Tillerson also spoke with India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani. The Taliban has repeatedly called on the US to withdraw all the forces and, saying that “the main driver of war in Afghanistan is foreign occupation.”
During his national address on the Afghanistan war Monday night, Trump said, "Someday, after an effective military effort, perhaps it will be possible to have a political settlement that includes elements of the Taliban in Afghanistan." Russia has previously called for the integration of the Taliban to the political process if the militants were to obey the country’s law.
"But nobody knows if or when that will ever happen," Trump added. “The Taliban must become a part of the political process if they recognize the current constitution of Afghanistan, give up on violence and will have nothing to do with terrorists,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in May. He added that the Taliban is a part of Afghan population, which needs to be united under those conditions.
“It is hard to imagine that without them [the Taliban] the conflict can be resolved, especially after the destruction, which NATO forces left behind after their decade-long presence,” Lavrov stated. He added that NATO did not solve any problem in Afghanistan and opened the way for Islamic State to come to the country.