Explosion in Afghanistan rocks Kabul; Taliban claims responsibility as peace talks with U.S. falter today

This is the inevitable outcome when you reward Islamic terror. Taliban is not a “peace partner” – they are the enemy who must be eviscerated.

Explosion in Afghanistan rocks Kabul; Taliban claims responsibility as peace talks with U.S. falter today

CBS News, July 1, 2019:

Kabul, Afghanistan — A powerful bomb blast rocked the Afghan capital early Monday, sending smoke billowing from downtown Kabul and leaving almost 100 people wounded. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack as peace talks between senior members of the Islamic extremist group and U.S. negotiators appeared to falter in Qatar.

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The bomb blast hit a military compound in Kabul less than two miles from the U.S. Embassy. Health Ministry official Wahid Mayer said 93 people were wounded and at least one was killed by the blast. He added that the toll could still rise as it was difficult to reach the area because of an ongoing gun battle between police and militants.

The explosion went off as the streets in the capital were packed with morning commuters. Mohammad Karim, a police official in the area, said a car bomb exploded outside a Defense Ministry building. Militants then ran into a nearby high-rise in a crowded market area and began firing down toward the ministry. Police and Afghan security forces swarmed the area and cordoned it off.

CBS News’ Ahmad Mukhtar said at least two assailants had taken positions in the building and were engaging Afghan forces on the ground.

The capital has been relatively quiet in recent months following a spate of violent explosions, many claimed by the local Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) affiliate. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent to media by spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

Peace prospects dim

The attack in Kabul came as the latest round of talks between the United States and the Taliban moved into a third day in the Middle Eastern state of Qatar, where the militant group maintains a political office. Some sources told CBS News that the talks — the seventh round of direct negotiations between the parties — appeared unlikely to progress beyond Monday, however.

The Taliban said their focus during the talks was on getting an announcement of a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan. That announcement would, theoretically, be accompanied by a Taliban promise to hold intra-Afghan talks and agree to an eventual cease-fire.

Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for the Taliban’s political office in Doha, told The Associated Press on Monday that “our main concern is to make sure a timeline for troop pullout is announced.” Taliban officials have previously said they want all foreign troops withdrawn within six months.

Washington has pushed for a longer timeline of a year to 18 months, however, and the firm insistence that the Taliban open a direct dialogue with the Afghan government. The militants have thus far refused to talk to the Afghan government, calling it a U.S. puppet regime.

Washington accelerated attempts to find a negotiated end to America’s longest war with the appointment last September of Afghan-born American Zalmay Khalilzad, who was a special presidential representative to Afghanistan and later U.S. ambassador in Kabul in the years immediately following the ouster of the Taliban.

U.S. and European officials with direct knowledge of the talks told CBS News’ Sami Yousafzai on Monday that Khalilzad planned to leave this round of negotiations and return to Washington as the Taliban had not shown enough flexibility in their demands. Officials on both sides of the discussion had called this round crucial — possibly a last chance to strike a peace deal.

Khalilzad’s staff did not confirm his plans, however, and it appeared that his negotiating team, at least, would remain in Doha to keep working with the Taliban representatives. In past rounds of the talks, the senior envoy has left Doha for consultations while his team continued working.

But Shaheen, the Taliban spokesman, hinted in a tweet on Monday at an impasse.

“When the withdrawal timetable of foreign forces is announced in the presence of international representatives then we will start negotiations with Afghan side, but we will not talk with the Kabul administration as a government,” he said.

CBS News’ Ahmad notes that Khalilzad has repeatedly stated that “nothing will be agreed until everything is agreed” — which includes direct talks between the Taliban and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s government.

Less than a week ago, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid a short visit to Kabul and said the Trump administration was hopeful that a peace deal with the Taliban was achievable by September. A day after he left, two U.S. troops were killed by small-arms fire in Afghanistan.

More than 2,400 U.S. service personnel have died in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led coalition invaded in October 2001 to oust the Taliban and hunt down al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

A senior official with the Afghan government, which has deeply resented being sidelined in the peace talks, told CBS News the attack in Kabul on Monday was evidence that the U.S.-Taliban negotiations were unlikely to bring peace to his country. “Khalilzad has failed, his mission is finished,” said the official at the presidential palace, who spoke on the condition that his name not be used.

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Naram-Sin

4 years ago

I’m sorry, peace talks with the Taliban should be conducted with Hellfire missiles not diplomats.

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Hans Wellington

4 years ago

Reply to  Naram-Sin

…but as long Muslims keep on killing each other I have absolut no objections. In fact it should be actively encouraged !

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volksnut

4 years ago

Reply to  Hans Wellington

I agree – as long as every last one of them is imported BACK to the middle east

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volksnut

4 years ago

Reply to  Naram-Sin

Extermination is the only logical choice

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John Acord

4 years ago

Why do you even need “peace talks”? Simply declare the Taliban defeated and leave the mocking up to the Afghan government supported by US arms and training personnel. Afghan is impossible to hold as the Taliban has safe sanctuaries in Pakistan and Iran in which to run and regroup. They will always be a problem,just make it an Afghan problem and not a US problem.

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R. Arandas

4 years ago

The Afghans should go back to their Buddhist roots, why enslave yourself to Arab culture anyway?

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