Abdullah Abdullah: U.S. Afghan Pullout to Continue by Yearend
TEHRAN (FNA) – Head of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah has announced that the U.S. army will continue pulling its troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year.
"At present, a number of American forces are leaving Afghanistan. This withdrawal will continue. Their number will decrease by the yearend but a number of them will stay after this year,” Abdullah told FNA in Tehran.
Asked if the outcome of the U.S. presidential elections will impact the so-called peace process in Afghanistan, he said there are some differences and agreements between the two main parties in the U.S., but the issue requires more talks.
He blasted U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden’s remarks that Afghanistan cannot be united and should be disintegrated, and said, "Afghanistan is united and will remain so and its survival depends on its unity and it enjoys national sovereignty and territorial integrity as an independent country and I wish peaceful and tranquil life for the Afghan people.”
"The Afghan people believe that a sustainable, acceptable and honorable peace for all Afghan people is a peace which preserves the rights of all Afghan people, and the Islamic Republic of Iran supports this peace,” Abdullah said.
Abdullah arrived in Tehran on Sunday for a three-day stay and meeting with a host of officials, including President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Zarif in a meeting with Abdullah on Sunday underscored his country’s support for peace talks and process led by the Afghans.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh wrote in a tweet on Sunday that "independent, developed and with peace and stability Afghanistan has always been the desire of Iran”.
The U.S. invaded Afghanistan under the pretext of fighting the Taliban regime in 2001. It reached an agreement with the Taliban in February, after almost two decades of fighting the militants in Afghanistan. Under the deal with Washington, the Taliban agreed to stop their attacks on U.S.-led foreign forces in return for the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and a prisoner swap with the government.
"At present, a number of American forces are leaving Afghanistan. This withdrawal will continue. Their number will decrease by the yearend but a number of them will stay after this year,” Abdullah told FNA in Tehran.
Asked if the outcome of the U.S. presidential elections will impact the so-called peace process in Afghanistan, he said there are some differences and agreements between the two main parties in the U.S., but the issue requires more talks.
He blasted U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden’s remarks that Afghanistan cannot be united and should be disintegrated, and said, "Afghanistan is united and will remain so and its survival depends on its unity and it enjoys national sovereignty and territorial integrity as an independent country and I wish peaceful and tranquil life for the Afghan people.”
"The Afghan people believe that a sustainable, acceptable and honorable peace for all Afghan people is a peace which preserves the rights of all Afghan people, and the Islamic Republic of Iran supports this peace,” Abdullah said.
Abdullah arrived in Tehran on Sunday for a three-day stay and meeting with a host of officials, including President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Zarif in a meeting with Abdullah on Sunday underscored his country’s support for peace talks and process led by the Afghans.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh wrote in a tweet on Sunday that "independent, developed and with peace and stability Afghanistan has always been the desire of Iran”.
The U.S. invaded Afghanistan under the pretext of fighting the Taliban regime in 2001. It reached an agreement with the Taliban in February, after almost two decades of fighting the militants in Afghanistan. Under the deal with Washington, the Taliban agreed to stop their attacks on U.S.-led foreign forces in return for the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and a prisoner swap with the government.