Graham doubts Taliban’s vow to fight Daesh

KABUL must be condition-based, says an influential US lawmaker.

The Taliban, who resumed peace parleys with the US in Doha last week, should also translate their promises into action, Senator Lindsey Graham stressed.

Speaking to journalists here on Monday evening, the visiting US senator tended to doubt Taliban’s promise to fight Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State terrorist outfits.

“The Taliban may not be trusted to be a reliable counterterrorism force. The idea … is a nonstarter,” remarked Graham, who cited a recent attack near the Bagram air base.

President Donald Trump would unveil a cut in US troop levels in Afghanistan this week from 12,000 to 8,600, he said, adding Afghan forces could defend their country.

The US could not withdraw in a fashion that allows international terrorism to rear its ugly head again in Afghanistan, he explained.

“Pakistan is a key player here. President Trump has mentioned to me several times that it is now time for Pakistan to up their game when it comes to denying sanctuary to the Taliban and other groups that are trying to destabilise Afghanistan.

“Having said that, he has a very good relationship with Prime Minister Imran Khan and I think the win-win scenario would be to open up trade negotiations with Pakistan,” said the senator.

Referring to the presidential election, Graham said: “In the coming weeks, hopefully, we can have a government that the votes will be counted in a fashion that are considered legitimate and that new government can form a negotiating team that’s representative of the Afghan people and that we may enter into a serious discussion with the Taliban to end this war. I hope that can happen.”

sa/mud