The Taliban has denied supporting Donald Trump in the wake of claims by the Afghan the militant group that it hopes the US president will be re-elected.
Taliban
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid reportedly supported Mr. Trump's attempt to stay
in the White House and expressed concern about his health.
"We
hope he wins the election and ends the US military presence in
Afghanistan," CBS News quoted Zabihullah Mujahid as saying in a phone
interview.
The
US news agency also quoted another senior Taliban leader as saying: "When
we heard that Trump's 19-year-old cousin was positive, we were worried about
his health, but it seems that they are getting better.”
In
response, Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said he "rejects"
support for the Taliban, adding: "The Taliban must know that the president
will always protect American interests in any way. ۔ "
But
in a "clarification" published by Mr. Mujahid on Sunday, the Taliban
also rejected the comments, saying CBS had "misinterpreted and
misrepresented my words".
"The
American newspaper CBSNews has misinterpreted and published my comments. He
wrote on Twitter that he has made no such publication.
Mr.
Trump announced in a tweet on Thursday that he wanted to repatriate US troops
serving in Afghanistan by Christmas.
The
move to withdraw the remaining 5,000 troops and end 19 years of US military
presence in the country could be seen’ as a possible victory for the Taliban.
The
US agreement with the Taliban scheduled the withdrawal of troops by May 2021,
subject to certain security guarantees.
Mr.
Trump said the United States was "doing very well with the Taliban"
after the first formal meeting between the Taliban and Afghan government peace
negotiators in September to end a two-decade-long war.
READ MORE
BGT's Simon Cowell revealed an incredible weight loss change
0 Comments