KABUL, Jun 26 (NNN-XINHUA) – An Afghan political analyst, described the U.S. forces withdrawal from Afghanistan as “hasty and irresponsible,” that encouraged the Taliban militants to step up activities in the militancy-battered country.
“The hasty and irresponsible pullout of troops encouraged the Taliban group to step up attacks in the country, and have captured several districts,” Hamidullah Arefi, an observer and editor-in-chief of the state-run English newspaper, The Kabul Times, told Xinhua yesterday.
On the pretext of fighting terrorism, the U.S. and allied nations invaded Afghanistan 20 years ago, to smash the Taliban, al-Qaeda and associated groups, but failed to achieve the mission, Arefi noted.
Neither Taliban nor al-Qaeda has been diminished, the analyst said. A number of radical groups, including the Taliban and al-Qaeda outfit, have existed in the presence of the U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan over the past 20 years.
Arefi made the remarks, amid the visit of Afghan President, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, to Washington.
Heading a high-ranking delegation, President Ghani met his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden yesterday, to discuss matters pertaining mutual interests, including Afghanistan’s political and military situation after the forces pullout, and intra-Afghan peace process.
Since the start of the U.S.-led forces’ pullout on May 1, the Taliban has intensified activities, and according to its spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, the group has overrun more than 70 districts.– NNN-XINHUA
