Trump sent invitation for Taliban leader in August
The leader of the Taliban's peace negotiations with the US said to ILNA news agency that in August, Trump sent an invitation for me to Taliban's political bureau to travel to the United States.
Speaking to ILNA correspondent, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai added that because the peace deal had not yet been signed with the United States, the Islamic Emirate decided not to travel to America at this moment.
“The fact is that we had completed the talks and only the signing of the agreement and its announcement remained. Even both negotiating teams agreed on all of its issues."
On 7 September, US President Donald Trump tweeted that he had cancelled meetings planned for the next day with Taliban leaders and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, and “called off peace negotiations" on Afghanistan.
Stanikzai said we insisted that the agreement should be signed at first and then put into effect. Adding however, it is unclear whether the talks can be resumed.
Answering to question about afghan election, he said that not only we do not care about election but we do not consider it legitimate. The Kabul government wants to stay in power through elections and has deceived the Afghan people.
"Our stance is that there is no solution to the conflict except negotiations and except peace on the table," Stanekzai said.
Asked about the fate of the US military, he said that after the agreement is signed with the Americans, all the troops will leave Afghanistan; this is certain!
He refers to John Bolton's departure from the US administration and said “maybe John Bolton's removal has a positive impact on US policy toward Afghanistan.”
On Friday, a Taliban negotiating team visited Russian Federation, where they held consultations with Zamir Kabulov, President Vladimir Putin's envoy for Afghanistan.
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