Al-Ghad TV spills the beans

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 16, 2021: In an exclusive, the London-based Al-Ghad TV(Arabic) disclosed that the Taliban proposed to Ashraf Ghani Government a three moth months truce. During the period, the proposal suggests joint efforts to establish a permanent ceasefire and a political settlement of the Afghan civil war.

By far, this is the most promising development since the start of military operations in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal from the Bagram base on July 3, 2021.

Earlier, the Taliban rejected all direct and indict talks with the Government of Ashraf Ghani, insisting on a military victor that would enable it establishing its Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on the same lines of its first stint during the period 1996-2001.

This shows that the Taliban is in a very bad situation and that its forces along with that of Saif ul Adil have suffered huge losses at the hands of Ashraf Ghani. Most probably, Kabul would reject the offer because releasing 5000 war-hardening Taliban POWs would strengthen the Taliban and would prolong the war.

Things could dramatically change if the US uses drones to kill Sirajuddin Haqqani and/or Saif ul Adil. In such a possibility, Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan would be doomed.