Afghanistan slams US for failing to honor peace agreement commitments

In a statement, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, criticized the United States for failing to implement key commitments outlined in the 2020 Doha Agreement between the Islamic Emirate and the United States.

The agreement, which was intended to pave the way for a peaceful resolution in Afghanistan, included provisions that the US was supposed to carry out but has not yet fully honored, Mujahid noted, Caliber.Az reports per Afghan media.

One of the most significant unresolved issues, according to Mujahid, involves the removal of Afghan officials' names from US sanction lists and steps toward meaningful engagement with Afghanistan. He expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the US has yet to fulfill these promises despite their importance in building a stable relationship between the two countries.

“There were certain provisions in the agreement that the US was supposed to implement, but they have not been carried out yet. These include removing names from sanction lists and taking steps toward engagement with Afghanistan, which have not yet been fulfilled. We want these commitments to be completed."

Mujahid further emphasized that, on the other hand, the Islamic Emirate has adhered to the broader contents of the agreement, stating, “So far, we see no issues in this regard."

This reflects the group's position that they have upheld their end of the deal, despite what they view as the US’ failure to meet its obligations.

Zalmay Afghanyar, a political analyst, also weighed in on the matter, stressing that the situation in Afghanistan should not pose a threat to regional or international countries. He also emphasized that Afghanistan’s airspace should remain respected by the United States, adding, “Unfortunately, the Americans did not fulfill some of these commitments.” He called for better management of intra-Afghan dialogues as part of the peace-building process.

The agreement between the US and the Taliban, which was signed in 2020, required the US to withdraw its forces and those of its allies from Afghanistan within 14 months. This process culminated in the US military's withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, which led to the Islamic Emirate regaining control of the country.

While the US has largely adhered to the terms of withdrawal, the failure to meet some of the more diplomatic commitments has led to ongoing tensions. Afghan officials and analysts continue to highlight these shortcomings as barriers to achieving long-term peace and stability in the region.

By Vafa Guliyeva