Taliban lose legitimacy to fight on after deal: Mohib

KABUL after they signed the peace deal with the United States.

Mohib, who appeared in a talk show on the state-run TV on Sunday evening, said the peace agreement between the US and the Taliban was a positive step forward towards establishing peace in Afghanistan, if the Taliban honored the agreement.

The Taliban on Monday told a foreign news agency that they will resume attacks on Afghan security forces, ending a brief peace that centred on a deal signed between the US and insurgents this weekend.

It follows an announcement by President Ashraf Ghani that his government would continue a partial truce until talks between Afghan officials and the Taliban begin on 10 March.

“The reduction in violence… has ended now and our operations will continue as normal,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP.

“As per the (US-Taliban) agreement, our mujahideen will not attack foreign forces but our operations will continue against the Kabul administration forces.”

The historic peace agreement between the US and the Taliban was signed on Saturday in Doha, which would enable US soldiers to withdraw from Afghanistan and pave the way for intra-Afghan negotiations.

Mohib said the deal offered a good opportunity to work for peace in the country and hoped the Taliban would sincerely work for peace and stability in the country.

Referring to reservations of some circles, Mohib said people should not be worried after the signing of the deal.

He said the Islamic Republic, democracy and protection of people’s rights were government’s responsibilities.

Referring to the question “who lost and who won the war”, he said neither the US nor the Afghan forces had been defeated, but the Taliban lost. “They lost eight districts in recent months and it was a political reconciliation not a defeat.”

Mohib said if the Taliban renounced violence and stopped killing Afghans, the government was ready to acknowledge their victory.

nh/ma