KABUL/ ISLAMABAD (SW) – The Express Tribune newspaper of Pakistan has reported talks between the Taliban and the U.S are now concentrated on the ideas of long-term military bases and firm guarantees of the Afghan soil not being used again to stage attacks in the West.
Although, the Taliban have repeatedly demanded complete withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan, they showed an inclination to discuss the suggestion of the US maintaining certain bases in the recent negotiations held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the ET reported quoting unnamed official sources.
Commenting on this, Assadullah Zahiri, deputy spokesman for the High Peace Council, said they are aware of such demands, and would support all efforts for the welfare of Afghanistan. He said the people and civil society representatives have pronounced safeguarding the gains of the past 17 years as the red line in the proposed peace talks.
On the other hand, political analyst, Fida Mohammad Nazari and former deputy minister for foreign affairs, Mirza Mohammad Yarmand, underlined the Taliban would be needing financial support from the US after the peace deal, and there is a possibility of them acknowledging such a demand. They said the permanent US military bases in Afghanistan would help limit foreign meddling.
The report published on Monday January 14 reported that the US along with its western as well as Arab allies would provide substantial financial assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan in the post-peace deal.
ENDS
