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WASHINGTON: President Donald trump on Friday he congratulated the Taliban for being tough and smart, and said the United States is dealing well with the Afghan militant group.
The Taliban, whose rigid Islamist government was toppled by US forces that invaded Afghanistan a month after the September 11, 2001 attacks, began. peace negotiations with the Afghan government this week to end two decades of war.
“We are dealing very well with the Taliban,” Trump told a news conference. “They are very tough, very smart, very sharp, but you know it’s been 19 years and even they are tired of fighting, to be fair.”
Trump, who is seeking reelection on November 3, is eager to call for an end to America’s longest conflict, and his administration has expressed its intention to use the aid as a lever to push forward a peace deal in Afghanistan.
The United States is ready to withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by May 2021, subject to the Taliban meeting certain security guarantees.
Taliban and Afghan government peace negotiators held their first formal meeting in Doha on Tuesday, after an opening ceremony on Saturday attended by the US secretary of state. Mike pompeo.
