Taliban responds to Trump after US President said he would oppose negotiations with militant group
The media office of the Taliban has told Donald Trump to let it know when he’s ready to discuss the US’s exit from Afghanistan after the US President said his administration would no longer engage in talks with the terrorist group.
“Let us know when you’re ready to talk to discuss your exit,” says a tweet from the account of the media office. “Soon is better before it becomes very ugly for you in Afghanistan. You know how to reach us through our office in Doha”.
During a meeting with members of the UN Security Council, Mr Trump railed against a string of recent attacks in Afghanistan. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for a car bombing in Kabul on Saturday that killed roughly 100 people and injured many others.
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“Innocent people are being killed left and right. Bombing, in the middle of children, in the middle of families, bombing, killing all over Afghanistan,” Mr Trump said. “So we don’t want to talk with the Taliban. There may be a time but it’s going to be a long time.”
The Trump administration is currently seeking to end a stalemate in the US’s longest war.
Multiple attempts to hold peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have failed.
kyl