Re: >>14358924 (PB)

Taliban issues attack warning as May 1 deadline for US troop removal passes

US starts troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Taliban warns of increased aggression

The Taliban sent a warning of "counteraction" to the U.S. Saturday, as the original May 1 date for U.S. and NATO troop removal from Afghanistan passed.

President Biden pushed back the original May deadline, agreed upon under the Trump administration, to Sept. 11, 2021 – leaving roughly 2,500 U.S. troops and 7,000 NATO soldiers in Afghanistan.

Though the official removal of U.S. troops from the Middle Eastern nation began earlier this week, the Taliban took to Twitter Saturday to remind security officials that, in their view, the U.S.-Taliban agreement was breached.

"This violation in principle has opened the way for IEA Mujahidin to take every counteraction it deems appropriate against the occupying forces," a Taliban spokesperson said Saturday.

"The Mujahidin of IEA will now await what decision the leadership of Islamic Emirate takes in light of the sovereignty, values and higher interests of the country, and will then take action accordingly, Allah willing," the spokesman added.

The Pentagon has warned that the remaining U.S. soldiers could be at a higher risk of attack as forces are withdrawn and the Taliban regains power.

The U.S. has been attempting to facilitate a peace deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government before the complete withdrawal of troops is complete – but some security officials remain skeptical, dubbing the effort "moonshot" because of its seemingly lofty goal.

U.S. and NATO troops entered Afghanistan in October 2001 to root out Al-Qaeda perpetrators following the 9/11 attacks on the U.S.

The U.S. is estimated to have spent $2 trillion in Afghanistan alone over the last 20 years, losing over 2,300 American soldiers during the fighting that ensued, along with an estimated over 47,000 Taliban and Afghan civilians, according to the Costs of War project.

While the majority of U.S. lawmakers support bringing an immediate end to the 20-year long battle with the Taliban, some are concerned it could reignite human rights abuses, particularly for Afghan women.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/taliban-issues-attack-warning-as-may-1-deadline-for-us-troop-removal-passes

>>14359030

Zabihullah (.. )

@Zabehulah_M33

#Clarification

As withdrawal of foreign forces from #Afghanistan by agreed upon May 1st deadline has passed, this violation in principle has opened the way for IEA Mujahidin to take every counteraction it deems appropriate against the occupying forces.

4:14 AM · May 1, 2021·Twitter Web App

https://twitter.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1388421451422699522

>>14359030

>>14359041

Zabihullah (.. )

@Zabehulah_M33

Replying to

@Zabehulah_M33

The Mujahidin of IEA will now await what decision the leadership of Islamic Emirate takes in light of the sovereignty, values and higher interests of the country, and will then take action accordingly, Allah willing.

4:22 AM · May 1, 2021·Twitter Web App

https://twitter.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1388423585430188032

>>14359052

>>14359030

>>14359041

Biden to order all US troops out of Afghanistan by 9/11 20th anniversary, report says

Convoy of U.S. vehicles during operations in Afghanistan's Paktika Province, October 11, 2007. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Micah E. Clare)

APRIL 13, 2021 RYAN MORGAN

President Joe Biden is expected to announce on Wednesday that the U.S. will finish the full withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021, according to people familiar with the plans who spoke with the Washington Post.

On the same day Biden officially announced the U.S. troop withdrawal deadline, the Taliban issued a warning that it expects the U.S. to meet an existing May 1 deadline to leave the country, or else those U.S. troops still remaining will “bear the responsibility for that.”

Biden’s toop withdrawal deadline pushes back Donald Trump’s administration in the February 2020 U.S.-Taliban peace agreement. The Biden administration’s plans will instead see the U.S. pull out from Afghanistan by the 20-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda terror attacks, which set off the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the wider Global War on Terror.

On Wednesday, the Taliban launched a rocket attack targeting a U.S. base in Kandahar. While the rockets fell outside of the U.S. base and caused no casualties, the Taliban has warned that it would resume attacks against U.S. forces if the Biden administration misses the May 1 deadline.

When the Trump administration signed the U.S.-Taliban deal, about 13,000 U.S. troops were still present in the country. The Trump administration gradually pulled thousands of troops from the country in the ensuing months and on Jan. 15, the Pentagon announced there were just 2,500 U.S. troops remaining in the country.

The 2,500 U.S. troop figure has been challenged since the New York Times reported in March that the Pentagon had failed to disclose an extra 1,000 U.S. troops still stationed in the country, potentially putting the true U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan at about 3,500.

In a March interview, Biden said the May 1 troop withdrawal deadline would be a “tough” one to meet and, with the deadline fast approaching, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the May 1 withdrawal deadline is “too soon.”

“Running for the exits pell-mell by May 1 is dangerous,” Smith said. “It is dangerous to our troops [and] I don’t want to leave a bunch of, you know, high-grade military equipment behind for whoever grabs it either.”

The Biden administration’s reported withdrawal plans come after the administration has reviewed its options for handling the Trump-era peace deal and the withdrawal deadline.

A source for the Washington Post said, “This is the immediate, practical reality that our policy review discovered. If we break the May 1st deadline negotiated by the previous administration with no clear plan to exit, we will be back at war with the Taliban, and that was not something President Biden believed was in the national interest.”

Responding to the reports about the Afghanistan withdrawal plans, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said “To say I’m concerned is a vast understatement—this is a reckless and dangerous decision. No one wants a forever war, but I’ve consistently said any withdrawal must be conditions-based. Arbitrary deadlines would likely put our troops in danger, jeopardize all the progress we’ve made, and lead to civil war in Afghanistan—and create a breeding ground for international terrorists.”

Inhofe called on Biden to reconsider the decision to set a timeline.

Other commentators separately said Biden should have stuck with Trump’s May 1 deadline.

“While we still believe a full withdrawal by the May 1st deadline in the Doha agreement best serves America’s interests, we are pleased to hear President Biden is firmly committed to bringing our troops home within the next few months,” the Concerned Veterans for America said in a press statement. “America has more pressing priorities at home and elsewhere, and President Biden must keep his promise to end our endless war in Afghanistan.”

Concerned Veterans for America have advocated for an end to the nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan, and have called for an end to U.S. military actions in conflict zones like Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and the horn of Africa.

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/04/biden-to-order-all-us-troops-out-of-afghanistan-by-9-11-20th-anniversary-report-says/

>>14359354

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I gather…

Despite warnings, Biden ignored agreed upon Trump admin deadline with contingencies, pushed withdrawal in Afghanistan to 9/11/21, weak Afghanistan Prez goes along with Biden. Taliban retaliates. All hell breaks loose. Biden pretends he was just continuing with prev admins deals, not his fault. Biden admin achieves desired choas and fatal distraction, by inciting war once again with the dreaded Taliban.

Watch: Biden Announces Withdrawal of U.S. Troops From Afghanistan by Sept. 11 | NBC News

48,740 viewsStreamed live on Apr 14, 2021

NBC News

5.76M subscribers

Watch live coverage as President Biden delivers remarks on the way forward in Afghanistan and is expected to announce plans for a withdrawal of American troops.

https://youtu.be/-9kbuAynSok

>>14359584

In other words, Biden/DS did this on purpose. False Flag. If not FF, poor decision making. But the new deadline of 9/11 suggests FF. So of course anons should pay attention to it.