US doesn’t rule out new Taliban talks after Trump announcement
WASHINGTON (AFP) – After President Donald Trump announcement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not rule out reopening talks with the Taliban if they make a significant commitment.
It is pertinent to mention here that Trump cancelled a secret meeting with their leaders at his Camp David retreat.
Mike Pompeo said Trump had not decided whether he would still withdraw US troops — but warned the Taliban of renewed military pressure if they keep up attacks.
“I hope it’s the case the Taliban will change their behavior and recommit to things we’ve talking about. In the end this will be resolved through a series of conversations,” Pompeo told ABC television program “This Week.”
"We need a significant commitment,” Pompeo said of the Taliban in a separate interview with CNN when asked if the United States could restart negotiations.
“If the Taliban don’t behave, if they don’t deliver on the commitments they made to us for weeks and in some cases months, the president of the United States is not going to reduce the pressure,” he said.
“We’re not going to reduce our support for the Afghan security forces that have fought so hard,” he said.
I have cancelled peace talks with Taliban over Kabul attack: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Saturday said he cancelled peace talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban leaders after the insurgent group said it was behind an attack in Kabul that killed an American soldier and 11 other people. Trump said he had planned a secret meeting with the Taliban’s “major leaders” on Sunday at a presidential compound in Camp David, Maryland. Trump said he also planned to meet with Afghanistan’s president. But Trump said he immediately called the talks off when the insurgents said they were behind the attack.....an attack in Kabul that killed one of our great great soldiers, and 11 other people. I immediately cancelled the meeting and called off peace negotiations. What kind of people would kill so many in order to seemingly strengthen their bargaining position? They didn’t, they....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 7, 2019