Afghanistan Peace CampaignIn a statement published by the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, McCaul urged President Joe Biden not to encourage anyone to engage with the “Taliban.”
The Islamic Emirate, referencing remarks by the chair of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and the US Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan about interaction with the interim government, said that these statements stem from a difference of opinion among US officials regarding Afghanistan.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, stated that good relations between Kabul and Washington are in the interest of both countries.
“In America, there is a difference of opinion or disagreement about Afghanistan. Michael (McCaul) may be one of those who supported the war in Afghanistan. After America’s disgraceful defeat, they might have been affected and now want to express hostility and animosity towards all of Afghanistan and its people; but this is not the solution.”
Michael McCaul, the chair of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, reacted to recent statements by Karen Decker, the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy for Afghanistan, about supporting Afghans’ “political roadmap and engagement with the Taliban,” saying that any suggestion of engaging with the “Taliban” is a slap in the face to the people of Afghanistan.
In a statement published by the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, McCaul urged President Joe Biden not to encourage anyone to engage with the “Taliban.”
“Suggesting any form of engagement with the Taliban is a slap in the face to the Afghan people who are victims of the Taliban regime. The administration should not encourage engagement with the Taliban under any circumstances,” the statement reads.
“They want to change the atmosphere and use pressure as a means to achieve their own benefits. If they get a positive response, they say there is a good path and an opening; if not, it means there’s a negative opening as well,” Aziz Maarij, a political analyst, said.
However, some political analysts said that the dichotomy in America’s foreign policy towards the caretaker government is influenced by the 2024 elections in the country.
“Differences emerge for them at critical times, especially during various elections they have, the most important being the presidential election,” said Sayed Hashem Balkhabi, a political analyst.
Previously, the US Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan stated that Afghan civil society in Istanbul supports the reintegration process of Afghanistan led by the United Nations and a political roadmap for engagement with the Islamic Emirate.