'Ink Not Even Dry...' US-Taliban Ceasefire Agreement Stumbles from the Start

Afghan President: "Prisoner Release Is Our Decision, Not the US's"
Strong Internal US Backlash... 'Agreement Comparable to Iran Nuclear Deal'

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Although the United States and the Afghan armed group Taliban have reached an agreement to end the 18-year war, difficulties are expected from the start. This is because the Afghan government has opposed the prisoner exchange, which is the first step of the peace agreement.

According to foreign media on the 1st (local time), Afghan President Ashraf Ghani raised issues regarding the contents of the peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban at a press conference that day. He stated that the Afghan government cannot follow the schedule and conditions of the prisoner exchange agreed upon between the U.S. and the Taliban.

President Ghani said, "The release of Taliban prisoners is not the authority of the United States but the authority of the Afghan government," adding, "(The Afghan government) has not made any promise to release 5,000 Taliban-affiliated prisoners." He also made it clear that while he could negotiate with the Taliban on this issue, the prisoner exchange cannot be a precondition for negotiations.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The United States and the Taliban specified in the agreement signed in Doha, Qatar on the 29th of last month that the Afghan government and the Taliban would begin talks from the 10th. According to this schedule, 5,000 Taliban members imprisoned by the Afghan government forces and 1,000 Afghan soldiers held captive by the Taliban would be exchanged.

However, less than 24 hours after the peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban was signed, the Afghan government raised objections, increasing the likelihood that the agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban will stall at the very first step. The prisoner exchange is a precondition for talks between the two sides. The Afghan government’s opposition to the prisoner exchange is intended to use it as a bargaining chip in future negotiations with the Taliban. According to The Washington Post (WP), the Afghan government fears losing leverage in negotiations if the prisoner exchange occurs before talks begin.

Concerns have also been raised within the United States regarding the agreement with the Taliban. Critics argue that this agreement harms U.S. security interests. Republican Representative Liz Cheney said, "This agreement could threaten U.S. security," adding, "Releasing thousands of Taliban members, easing sanctions on terrorists, and withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan in exchange for promises from the Taliban that cannot even be verified for compliance is unacceptable." She added, "This agreement reminds me of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA ? Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) made during President Barack Obama’s administration." There are concerns that the Trump administration has reached an agreement with the Taliban at a level comparable to the Iran nuclear deal, which it had previously criticized as the worst agreement.

Former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton also criticized the deal on his Twitter, saying, "The agreement with the Taliban is a risk that American citizens cannot accept," and warned that "the Taliban could send the wrong signal to terrorist groups such as ISIS and al-Qaeda."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came out in active defense. Pompeo appeared on CBS's 'Face the Nation' that day and said, "We have laid an important foundation to bring U.S. soldiers home and reduced the likelihood that any more U.S. soldiers will lose their lives in Afghanistan," adding, "The Afghan people have also been provided with conditions to resolve a 40-year conflict."

Regarding President Ghani’s refusal to accept the prisoner exchange, Pompeo said, "We will work with all relevant parties to build trust," and expressed hope that "somehow an agreement can be reached."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.