Taliban warn of ‘consequences’ if US fails to meet troop withdrawal deadline

The Taliban have warned of “consequences” if the United States fails to meet the May 1 deadline for withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, as agreed as part of last year’s peace deal. Earlier today, President Joe Biden said it will be “tough” to meet the deadline, while taking a direct swipe at his predecessor Donald Trump for what he said was “not a very solidly negotiated deal”. 

As part of the agreement signed in the Qatar capital of Doha last September, the US is required to completely pull out its troops from the war-torn country in six weeks. 

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But Biden cast doubts on that timeline, saying he was in the process of deciding when troops would leave.

“The Americans should end their occupation in accordance with the Doha deal and fully withdraw their forces from Afghanistan by May 1,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP.

“If they don’t do it, be it for any reason and pretexts, then they will be responsible for the consequences,” he said, adding that “the people of Afghanistan will make their decision”.

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The deal, which excluded the Afghan government, saw the Taliban pledge in return to hold peace talks with the administration of President Ashraf Ghani.

The talks however have made little progress since starting in September, while violence — which Washington has blamed on the Taliban — has surged.