Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani, center, speaks during the Eid al-Fitr at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, May 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Afghani President Ashraf Ghani said his country is preparing for the worst in the wake of a delayed and disorienting withdrawal of U.S. troops. On Monday, he told reporters that after the years he has spent working to restore the government, he would not give into to Taliban demands.
“I’ve been working on this for two decades; there are lessons,” Ghani stated. Peacemaking is not jazz, it’s not improvisation. In order to do jazz, you need ten thousand hours of preparation.”
His statement comes as the Taliban has increased violence in the region since May 1, which was the original withdrawal deadline established by President Trump. This is exactly what military experts warned might happen if Joe Biden ignored the groundwork laid by previous negotiations and unilaterally made his own decision regarding operations in an incredibly unstable area.
The U.S. decision to leave #Afghanistan is a decision moment for the Taliban, the region, and Afghans themselves. The choice ahead is clear—coalesce around an acceptable end state in Afghanistan, or continue the dangerous power-grabbing alternative. https://t.co/HRUJEAicZt
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) May 5, 2021
Nevertheless, Ghani affirmed with the resolution of the decades-long conflict and despite threats, if it came down to it Afghanistan would establish a democracy or the people would die trying.
“If they do not want peace and want to gain power through violence and impose a dictatorial regime, then all the patriotic forces of Afghanistan will have to rally and make a decision,” stated the Afghani President. “And that issue, unfortunately, will have to be decided on the field of battle.”
Source: One America News Network
