On Saturday, September 07, 2019, President Donald Trump stated that Taliban leaders were to travel to the US for secret peace talks this weekend. However, President Trump called off the meeting with the militant group entirely.
Trump tweeted that he abandoned the meeting after the Taliban took responsibility for an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed at least a dozen people, including an American soldier.
Inviting Taliban leaders to America is a remarkable move and a significant development in America’s longest-running war just a few days prior from the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. President Trump was planning to withdraw thousands of US forces from Afghanistan, however, his plan was to keep 8,600 troops in the country at least for a while. It’s not clear if Trump’s Saturday night announcement will impact that plan.
As per President Trump’s tweet on Saturday night, “Unbeknownst to almost everyone, the major Taliban leaders and, separately, the President of Afghanistan, were going to secretly meet with me at Camp David on Sunday”.
President Trump mentioned that before travelling to the US on Saturday evening, “Unfortunately, in order to build false leverage, they took credit for an attack in Kabul that killed one of our great-great soldiers, and 11 other people.” “I immediately cancelled the meeting and called off peace negotiations,” Trump added.
The terrorist group has not stopped its violence as the peace talks with the US have taken place but Thursday’s killing of an American soldier when a deal was reportedly close appears to have prompted the dramatic move from the President.
Though, President Trump said in his tweet on Saturday that peace negotiations are called off, but, still the new dates are being discussed by the White House for a potential meeting with the Taliban and the Afghan government. It is difficult to say if the Taliban will have to make hard and fast commitments before the meeting; or, if Trump is using the cancellation and rescheduling as a negotiating tactic.
