IEA scorns Trump’s claim on arms sales

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has spurned the ex-US president’s claim that Afghanistan has become the largest weapons-selling country in the world.

Donald Trump, speaking at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night formally accepted his party’s presidential nomination for a third straight election.

Trump criticised President Joe Biden’s withdrawal strategy from Afghanistan. About the attack during the evacuation programme outside the Kabul airport, he recalled at least 13 American soldiers were killed and 45 others wounded.

He claimed during his tenure, there were not attacks on US soldiers in Afghanistan for 18 months.

Trump also claimed that Afghanistan was currently one of the biggest sellers of weapons in the world.

He said that he had a great withdrawal plan, but his successor, Joe Biden, did not implement that strategy perfectly.

The former US leader criticised the abandonment of Bagram Air Base, describing it as one of the largest and most strategically significant bases in the world.

“The longest runways, the most powerful, hardened, thickened runways—we gave it up. I liked it not just because of Afghanistan, but because of China. It’s one hour away from where China makes their nuclear weapons, and now China has it.”

However, the interim government in Kabul rejected Trump’s claim that Afghanistan emerged as the largest weapons seller.

IEA chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid linked the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan to the sacrifice of Afghans and their two-decade struggle against the occupation.

He said all the military equipment left by the US in the country belonged to Afghanistan.

“Any equipment that was and is in Afghanistan is all stored and stationed and is the property of Afghanistan. It is protected and safeguarded for the preservation of our homeland, our values, and the defence of our compatriots and our soil. Not a single weapon will be wasted, sold or transferred,” Mujahid promised.

He added Afghanistan needed these weapons and equipment in order to protect its territorial integrity and ensure people’s security.

kk/mud

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