Taliban Tensions: A Pashtun Leader’s Call for Resistance Against U.S. Demands

A Pashtun influential figure based in Europe, while harshly criticizing parts of the Taliban government in Kabul for conceding to U.S. demands, emphasized that there are serious differences between the Kabul team (due to economic needs) and the Kandahar team (due to ideological opposition) regarding this matter…

​Kabul Team’s Concession to Washington’s Demands

An Afghan Pashtun influential figure based in Europe, with a long history of cooperation with the U.S. government in Afghanistan, reported on internal disagreements within the Taliban government regarding how to interact with the United States. He pointed out Washington’s efforts to persuade the Taliban government to accept its demands in Afghanistan, stressing that the team based in Kabul has conceded to U.S. demands due to urgent economic needs, while the primary and powerful team in Kandahar strongly opposes these requests. This informed source cited one example of this retreat by the Kabul team as the failure to hold a military parade on the anniversary of the conquest this year and expressed regret over this approach.

​Clear Advice to the Taliban: Claim Compensation for Destruction

This Pashtun influential figure stated in his analysis that instead of bowing to the United States, the Taliban government should adopt an aggressive stance and claim compensation from Washington. He emphasized that the U.S. government should pay reparations for the killings of the Afghan people and the widespread destruction caused during its twenty-year military presence in the country.

​Bitter Experience of Previous Governments Against U.S. Policies

This informed source, drawing on his experiences during cooperation with the U.S. government, reminded that the demands of the United States have a direct relationship with the weakened or strengthened position of the counterpart. He deemed the previous Afghan governments as a prominent example of weakness against Washington. According to this analyst, in the past, the more the Afghan government conceded to the U.S., the more Washington’s demands increased without offering any concessions. He referred to the final days of Ashraf Ghani’s government and stated that at that time, even the President of Afghanistan was considered no more than an American soldier by Trump.

​Final Warning: A Choice Between Humiliation or Standing Firm

In conclusion, this influential figure warned that the bitter experiences of the past now lie before the Taliban officials. In his view, the choice will be up to the current officials whether they want to be humiliated like Ashraf Ghani before the U.S. or, like a proud Afghan, stand firm against the endless demands of Washington and prevent excessive demands from that country.