Taliban threaten ‘serious response’ to US airstrikes

KABUL (Pajhwok): US forces carried out airstrikes in three provinces in violation of the Doha agreement, said the Taliban on Monday, threatening a serious response, but the American forces said defending Afghan forces was part of the Doha accord.

Taliban spokesman, ZabihullahMujahid, in a statement on Twitter said US forces carried out airstrikes in Nangarhar and Helmand provinces over the past few days.

He said the US forces provided air support to government forces conducting an operation in Arghandab district of southern Kandahar. The Taliban spokesman claimed the airstrikes took place in non-combat areas.

The Taliban warned if the airstrikes and the operation in Kandahar were not stopped soon and continued in violation of the Doha agreement, it would have serious consequences and the responsibility would fall on the Americans.

Col. Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan, rejected the Taliban’s allegations of violating the Doha agreement and said that their commitment to the Doha accord was clear and they would continue to defend Afghan forces against Taliban attacks.

He reiterated the US calls for all sides to reduce violence in Afghanistan and asked the Taliban to stop the assassination spree of government officials, civil society activists and journalists for the peace process to succeed.

It comes a day after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there had been no Taliban attacks on Americans since the agreement was signed.

bk/ma

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