Trump’s Deal Gave Talibans Absolute Legitimacy to Control Afghanistan

by Ebony Trumble

Pres. Biden responded to criticisms regarding his decision to order the withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan by mentioning it was initiated by ex-POTUS Trump; after the latter made a deal with Taliban leaders sometime in the early months if year 2020, Apparently, the agreement gave the Taliban significant legitimacy in claiming absolute control over Afghanistan. .

Details of the deal are contained in a peace agreement document signed by authorized leaders of the Taliban group and U.S. officials. Called the “Agreement to Bringing Peace to Afghanistan” the signing event is evidenced by a photo taken Feb. 29, 2020. The photograph shows Talbian’s top political leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad shaking hands after signing the agreement in Doha, Qatar.

The deal Trump made February last year led to the chaos that led to the death of 12 U.S. soldiers in Kabul when Talibans took control of the city. Trump’s State Secretary Mike Pompeo asserted that the Trump administration believed the agreement was the best opportunity for peace in the war-torn country.

However, the deal made the Afghanistan situation difficult for Biden to renegotiate based on his own terms,. Although Biden also wanted to withdraw the U.S. troops from Afghanistan, he was forced to choose between bringing thousands of soldiers home or back out from an agreement that was nearing a deadline stipulated as condition to the peace treaty.

Biden reiterated last Monday in a televised address from the White House that he will not be sending more American troops to Afghanistan while the U.S. military withdrawal was already predetermined by Trump. President Biden mentioned that while he has the choice, to either follow through the deal or to back out, it also meant preparing to fight the Talibans by sending more troops. .

 

Unfortunately, the Taliban takeover transpired at a much faster pace than was expected by officials from both the former and current administration. This raised questions. particularly on whether the conditions, terms and decisions related to the deal sought to protect Afghanistans once the U.S troops went home.

What Did the Trump Administration Agreed to as Peace Keeping Deal?

The “Agreement to Bringing Peace to Afghanistan” ordered to reduce the military forces of 13,000 to 8,600 in the span of three to four months, while the rest should leave by May 1. 2021. President Biden mentioned in an ABC interview that right after assuming office as POTUS, he was already facing a deadline for withdrawing the U.S. troops. Still, Pres. Biden admitted that even without Trump’s deal, he would have looked for a way to withdraw U.S, troops out of the country,

 

Furthermore, the agreement set down some commitments that many believe the Taliban cannot be expected to follow; such as stopping terrorism like preventing other countries from using Afghan land in attacking other territories or allies, and to renounce al-Qaida. Even though the agreement restrained the group from launching attacks on U.S and coalition forces, the agreement did not specifically obligate the Talibans to stop attacking the Afghan military bases or to expel members of the al-Qaeda group out of Afghan territory. .