Referring to media reports about the deployment of 650 US troops in Afghanistan, the Taliban stressed that the US had violated the Qatar agreement and that the group had the right to react.
Sohail Shahin, a senior member of the Taliban negotiating team, said the group would reserve the “right to react” if US troops continued to be present in Afghanistan after 9/11.
US officials told the Associated Press that 650 US troops were expected to remain in Afghanistan after the full withdrawal to ensure the security of diplomats and Kabul airport.
Referring to the lack of a complete withdrawal of US troops, Shaheen added that if the United States did so, it would be a clear violation of the Qatar agreement signed between the United States and the Taliban in Doha in February 2020.
The senior member of the Taliban negotiating team told Al-Jazeera: We signed the Qatar agreement after 18 months of negotiations with the American side. They agreed and pledged to withdraw all troops, advisers and contract troops from Afghanistan.
He added that the continued presence of US troops was a “clear violation” of the Qatar agreement.
Shahin continued: If they stay here, I think this is a kind of continuation of the occupation, they have violated the agreement, and we have every right to react.
He said the United States had already violated the deadline for a full withdrawal by May 1, adding that the Taliban did not attack them, although it was able to do so.