Afghan MPs want responsible US forces’ pullout

KABUL (Pajhwok): A number of Wolesi Jirga or lower house members on Wednesday stressed a responsible withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and said the conditions for foreign troops exit were not suitable.

Washington Post has reported that the US president plans to complete the military exit from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that first drew the United States into its longest war.

Based on the US-Taliban agreement signed in February 2020, all US troops and its allies should leave Afghanistan by May 1 of 2021.

Ali Akbar Jamshidi, a lawmaker from Daikundi province talking to today’s session of the house about the US troop withdrawal, said, “This decision of the US will weaken Afghan forces and the current government, the US came to Afghanistan based on a UN decision to fight against terrorism and narcotics. Unfortunately both the problems have increased and if it leaves Afghanistan, it should be based on a decision of UN.

He said that US forces withdrawal based on an agreement with the Taliban was against principles and the UN Security Council’s resolution.

The government of Afghanistan has a security pact with the US until 2024 and early American forces withdrawal would create problems and crisis in the country until permanent stability is assured, he said.

Meanwhile, GulRahmanHamdard, a lawmaker form Balkh province said, “American forces withdrawal from Afghanistan should be responsible, Afghanistan would plunge into a civil war before any agreement reached between the Taliban and Afghan government and no one will be able to control that war.”

Kamal Nasar Osoli, a lawmaker from Khost province said, “The US came to Afghanistan without consultation with Afghans and will leave the same way”

However, a number of other lawmakers emphasized on an early withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.

Abdul RaoufShpoon, a representative from Nangarhar province said, “Those who have lobbied for the presence of US have betrayed (this country), we do not want America even for a day, the US is the cause of miseries in Afghanistan, those whose interests are at risk want presence of the US so they would not lose contracts, we want a peace that should protect the current system and Afghan forces.”

Abdul QayumSajjadi, a lawmaker from Ghazni province said, “The responsible withdrawal topic is rational, but responsible politics of Afghan politicians should also be thought about, we should not always have expectations from foreigners to bring us security and development, the Afghan government should also take measures for post withdrawal and work for political unity instead of fueling ethnical and religious discrimination.”

Speaker Mir RahmanRahmani said that the US intervened in Afghanistan based on UNSC’s resolution for some certain goals, but war, production and trafficking of narcotics were still going unabated in the country.

“Foreign forces withdrawal is the wish of all our nation; but conditions are yet to be made for that, we want US forces’ withdrawal to be based on conditions,” he said.

He said that US forces withdrawal before ensuring peace in Afghanistan had worried Afghans and the US should leave the country following the UNSC’s resolution.

Mds/ma