U.S. Bombs Afghan Outpost in Violation of Pullout Deal
KABUL (Dispatches) – The United States launched an air strike on an outpost in central Afghanistan the purportedly belong to the Taliban, killing five militants, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan said Sunday evening.
The U.S. attack comes despite the ongoing talks with the Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, aimed at restoring peace and security to the country.
The U.S. military spokesman in Kabul, said the air strike in Wardak province targeted Taliban militants, killing five.
Many believe that the action is in violation of the terms of the United States withdrawal agreement struck with the Taliban in February.
"We reject the allegations of violating the agreement and of killing innocent Afghans,” the U.S. spokesman said, without elaborating.
When asked for comment, a Taliban spokesman said that there had been no fighting when the strike took place, and it broke the terms of agreement.
"This attack is a violation of the agreement and we condemn it,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
Earlier this month, the Taliban accused the United States of violating the agreement following air strikes in southern Helmand province, where government forces were repelling hundreds of militants seeking to seize control of the provincial capital Laskhar Gah.
Under the U.S.-Taliban deal, the militants agreed to stop their attacks on foreign forces in return for the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and prisoner swap with the government.
The Kabul government neither took part in the U.S.-Taliban negotiations, nor in the deal, but it has been acting in accordance with its terms, including freeing the Taliban prisoners.
Washington invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban-run government in 2001 under the pretext of fighting terrorism following the September 11 attacks in New York.
Since the U.S. and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror, Afghanistan has been gripped by violence and insecurity, with many parts of the country plagued by militancy despite the presence of foreign troops.
The U.S. attack comes despite the ongoing talks with the Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, aimed at restoring peace and security to the country.
The U.S. military spokesman in Kabul, said the air strike in Wardak province targeted Taliban militants, killing five.
Many believe that the action is in violation of the terms of the United States withdrawal agreement struck with the Taliban in February.
"We reject the allegations of violating the agreement and of killing innocent Afghans,” the U.S. spokesman said, without elaborating.
When asked for comment, a Taliban spokesman said that there had been no fighting when the strike took place, and it broke the terms of agreement.
"This attack is a violation of the agreement and we condemn it,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
Earlier this month, the Taliban accused the United States of violating the agreement following air strikes in southern Helmand province, where government forces were repelling hundreds of militants seeking to seize control of the provincial capital Laskhar Gah.
Under the U.S.-Taliban deal, the militants agreed to stop their attacks on foreign forces in return for the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and prisoner swap with the government.
The Kabul government neither took part in the U.S.-Taliban negotiations, nor in the deal, but it has been acting in accordance with its terms, including freeing the Taliban prisoners.
Washington invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban-run government in 2001 under the pretext of fighting terrorism following the September 11 attacks in New York.
Since the U.S. and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror, Afghanistan has been gripped by violence and insecurity, with many parts of the country plagued by militancy despite the presence of foreign troops.