Official Afghan Taliban Statement Credits U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump With Ending America's '20-Year Occupation' Of Afghanistan, Urges Him To End 'The Ongoing Brutality And Aggression In Gaza And Lebanon'

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban), which came to power as a result of the 2020 Doha Agreement signed with the U.S. during former president Donald Trump's first term, reacted to Trump's electoral victory, saying that it is hopeful for constructive relations with the U.S."

Head Of Taliban Political Office In Qatar Expects That Taliban "Will Be Recognized During Trump's Presidency"

Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Islamic Emirate's Political Office in Qatar, said that with Donald Trump's re-election, "there is a possibility of improving relations between the U.S. and the Taliban," and he expects that the Taliban government "will be recognized during Trump's presidency."[1] The 2020 Doha Agreement is named for the place where it was negotiated with Qatar's mediation and where the Taliban maintain an informal embassy called a Political Office.

Since the Taliban took power in mid-August 2021, their government is yet to be formally recognized by any country or the United Nations. According to a media report, Suhail Shaheen told Russian news agency Ria Novosti: "We hope to make progress, to improve relations between the two countries so that (a formal) recognition can be achieved, because we want normal relations with America and other countries."[2]

In Kabul, the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Emirate, issued an official statement, expressing hope that the second Trump administration will adopt a pragmatic approach.

"It Is Expected That Mr. Trump Will Assume A Constructive Role In Ending The Current Conflicts In The Region & Globally, Particularly The Ongoing Brutality & Aggression In Gaza & Lebanon"

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in line with its balanced foreign policy, expresses hope that following the announcement of the U.S. election results, the incoming U.S. administration will adopt a pragmatic approach to ensure tangible advancement in bilateral relations, allowing both nations to open a new chapter of relations grounded in mutual engagement," it said.[3]

The Taliban's Foreign Ministry added: "The Doha Agreement signed between the Islamic Emirate and America under President Trump's administration led to the end of the 20-year occupation. Furthermore, it is expected that Mr. Trump will assume a constructive role in ending the current conflicts in the region & globally, particularly the ongoing brutality & aggression in Gaza & Lebanon."[4]

Trump, during his first term as the U.S. president, adopted a businessman-like policy in furthering talks with the Taliban jihadi group fighting the U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan. Sometime in 2019, President Trump had also planned that following a deal in Doha, he would welcome Taliban leaders and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at Camp David, ostensibly for a spectacular media opportunity.[5] However, Trump called off peace negotiations with the Taliban after it executed a terror attack in Kabul that killed at least 10 people, including a U.S. soldier.[6]

However, the negotiations were resumed subsequently. Hours after the Doha Agreement was signed on February 29, 2020, by U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the lead Taliban negotiator, following 18 months of talks, Trump said: "It's time after all these years to bring our people back home. We want to bring our people back home. Again, it has been a long journey in Afghanistan."[7]

Afghan Taliban routinely flog women in public stadiums for running away from home, going out with boys, or having illicit relations with men (image courtesy: Kabul Now)

More than three years into power in Kabul, the Afghan Taliban have banned girls and women from entering schools above sixth grade to colleges and universities, have prevented women from working and singing, or simply walking unaccompanied in streets, have ordered women that their voices should not be heard outside homes, and have defied the international community to relax these brutal restrictions on women's rights.

National Resistance Front: "The Past Four Years Have Seen A Deeply Flawed Policy In Afghanistan, Marked By A Disastrous Withdrawal, And A Policy Of Appeasement... Now Is The Time To Correct These Mistakes"

In  a statement dated November 6, Ali Maisam Nazary, head of Foreign Relations for the National Resistance Front (the lead anti-Taliban resistance group in Afghanistan led by Ahmad Massoud), congratulated Trump on his re-election, expressing hope that his administration would address past policy flaws, particularly concerning Afghanistan.

Nazari said: "On behalf of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, we extend our sincere congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his election as the 47th President of the United States of America. The past four years have seen a deeply flawed policy in Afghanistan, marked by a disastrous withdrawal, and a policy of appeasement that has disappointed both the people of Afghanistan and the American nation. Now is the time to correct these mistakes, and we hope the new administration will pursue a policy that serves the interests of both Americans and Afghanistan's people."[8]

"The Taliban terrorist group, along with 21 other regional and global terror organizations inside Afghanistan, has exploited this absurd policy to gain strength and resources. The ongoing weekly financial support to the Taliban must end, as must the misguided engagement with this terrorist group, which falsely assumes they will combat their terrorist brethren in other organization. We urge support and recognition for the people of Afghanistan's resistance against global terrorism and their legitimate aspirations for a democratic, decentralized, and pluralistic Afghanistan where all citizens are treated equally..." he added.[9]