The Taliban, a Sunni Islamic fundamentalist and militarized organization in Afghanistan, officially endorsed US President Donald Trump’s candidacy ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a phone call with CBS News: “We believe that Trump is going to win the upcoming election because he has proved himself a politician who accomplished all the major promises he had made to American people, although he might have missed some small things, but did accomplish the bigger promises, so it is possible that the U.S. people who experienced deceptions in the past will once again trust Trump for his decisive actions.”
He went on to say: “We think the majority of the American population is tired of instability, economic failures and politicians’ lies and will trust again on Trump because Trump is decisive, could control the situation inside the country. Other politicians, including Biden, chant unrealistic slogans. Some other groups, which are smaller in size but are involved in the military business including weapons manufacturing companies’ owners and others who somehow get the benefit of war extension, they might be against Trump and support Biden, but their numbers among voters is low.”
Another senior Taliban official said that the organization “hopes [Trump] will win the election” and make true on his promises of withdrawing “US military presence in Afghanistan”. The Taliban also spoke positively of Trump’s “America First” slogan, saying that they welcome a world in which the US does not attempt to be “cops for the world” or try to impose a “single flag and anthem for the globe”. They hinted that less American interference would result in greater safety in the US, going on to call Trump a “sane and wise man for the Taliban”, even if the “rest of the world” finds him to be “ridiculous”.
The Trump campaign has reacted strongly to these statements, with campaign spokesperson Tim Murtagh “rejecting” their support, saying, “The Taliban should know that the president will always protect American interests by any means necessary.”
Under Trump’s presidency, the US has already withdrawn 5,000 troops from the country, and national security adviser Robert O’Brien recently revealed that plans are in motion to reduce the total number of troops stationed in Afghanistan to 2,500 by early next year.
Under his leadership, the US signed the historic Afghan peace deal, wherein he said that US troops would fully withdraw from the country by spring 2021. This point was reiterated by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his meeting with Taliban co-founder and political deputy Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Doha last month. Likewise, last week, Trump tweeted, “We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas.”
According to the terms of the agreement, US troop withdrawal is contingent on the Taliban breaking ties with the al-Qaeda and acceding to a power-sharing deal with the Afghan government. This appears to have been a campaign ploy to position Trump as the president who ended the war in Afghanistan and brought troops home. This is evidenced by the fact that US troop withdrawal is in full swing despite a recent UN report revealing that the Taliban continues to maintain strong ties with al-Qaeda.
At the same time, the Taliban has orchestrated multiple attacks against both Afghan forces and civilians across the country following the signing of the agreement, drawing into question the organization’s commitment to facilitating peace and stability.
In fact, the US military remains uneasy with Trump’s timeline, arguing that it is unwise to reduce troop levels below 4,500 unless Taliban severs ties with the al-Qaeda and also commits to reducing violence in the region.
While the Trump campaign swiftly rejected the Taliban’s endorsement, it is curious to note that the president has previously been backed by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, the niece of Osama bin Laden, and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.
In fact, in September, Trump remarked about the Taliban: “They’re very tough, they’re very smart, they’re very sharp, but you know it’s been 19 years and even they are tired of fighting, in all fairness.”
Taliban Officially Endorses Trump’s Candidacy Ahead of Presidential Election
A senior Taliban official said that the organization “hopes [Trump] will win the election” and make true on his promises of withdrawing “US military presence in Afghanistan”.
October 13, 2020
IMAGE SOURCE: OSAMA FAISAL / APTaliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid