US negotiates with Taliban as tensions grow in Afghanistan

Nahla Abdel Monem

Fierce battles continued to rage on in Afghanistan for the second day in a row.

The US, meanwhile, continues to negotiate with the members of the politburo of the Taliban in Doha on the US pullout from Afghanistan.

Massive expansion

Extremist forces launch major battles inside Afghan cities, at the time US representative Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad sits with the Taliban in Doha.

On June 30, Taliban elements attacked an area in southern Afghanistan with four booby-trapped vehicles. The attack left eight government workers dead. In response, the Afghan army staged an attack on Taliban hideouts, killing dozens of fighters from the extremist group.

The army also launched attacks on arms warehouses and training camps of the Taliban.

On June 29, the group launched an attack on pro-government elements, killing 26 and injuring 12.

The Taliban issued an ultimatum last week for pro-government media workers. It said it would target them if they had not stopped airing anti-Taliban propaganda in the media.

Spokesman of the movement in Doha, Suhail Shaheen, described the seventh round of talks with the US as “serious” and “decisive”.

The two sides hope to reach agreement on ending the longest war in the US history.

Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said the two sides had reached serious understandings. He added, however, that they have not reached agreement on some important details.

Ongoing negotiations

The US hopes to put an end to ongoing fighting in the region and hammering out a comprehensive peace deal with all parties.

The US also wants to pull its troops out of Afghanistan in the light of a specific timetable. It wants to ensure that Afghanistan will not turn into a springboard of attacks against US interests.

The Taliban, meanwhile, wants to totally end US presence in Afghanistan. It wants the names of its leaders lifted from US terrorism lists.

The Taliban also insists not to allow the Afghan government to attend its negotiations with the US. The group does not recognize the legitimacy of the government.

Foreign Policy Magazine faulted the US policy in Afghanistan, accusing the US administration of opting for the wrong side all the time.