Saleh claims al-Qaeda fighters supporting Taliban in Afghanistan

Vice President Amrullah Saleh claimed that the Taliban has not cut ties with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, despite having agreed to do so when signing the agreement with the US in February last year.

In an interview with France24 on Monday, Saleh stated: “At least 500 foreign terrorists largely affiliated with al-Qaeda are fighting alongside Taliban in Afghanistan.”

Saleh also welcomed the decision of the Biden administration to review the February 2020 agreement signed with the Taliban.

“I highly welcome the decision to review the Doha agreement between the United States and the Taliban,” he said.

According to Saleh, the Taliban has breached their commitments under the Doha deal.

“The Taliban have not remained committed and they have not honored their commitments and they have violated brazenly everything that they promised on February 29, 2020,” Saleh said.

Saleh stated that the Taliban has not reformed its ways. “What we call upon the United States is to look at the history of this group, look at their behavior. They have not stood by their promises in the past.”

He noted that US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan should be based on conditions on the ground.

“I would say that the United States’ national and security interests would not allow an exit without putting a verification mechanism in place to ensure that Afghanistan does not become a safe haven for terrorists and Taliban,” Saleh said.

The Taliban has not yet commented.