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WORLD NEWS Friday 9 OctOber 2020

Taliban cheer Trump tweet promising early troop withdrawal

By KATHY GANNON There was no immediate
Associated Press information about the pur-
ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Af- pose of Thursday's meet-
ghan Taliban on Thursday ing but Khalilzad has been
welcomed a tweet from keen to get both sides —
President Donald Trump in particularly the Taliban —
which he promised to have to sign on to a reduction
the last of U.S. troops out of in violence at least while
Afghanistan by Christmas the Qatar negotiations are
— or at least by the end of underway and until a per-
the year. manent cease-fire can be
If that withdrawal happens, negotiated.
it would be months ahead It's likely Miller and Khalilzad
of schedule and the tweet were seeking the help of
made no reference to a Pakistan's powerful military
Taliban promise to fight ter- to press the Taliban, who
rorist groups — a previous have insisted on fighting Af-
pre-requisite for an Ameri- ghan security forces even
can withdrawal. as talks are taking place —
In a tweet that seemed to though the insurgents have
contradicted his national kept a promise from Febru-
security adviser, Trump said ary not to attack U.S. and
"we should have the small NATO troops.
remaining number of our In this Sept. 12, 2020, file photo, Taliban negotiator Abbas Stanikzai, center front, and his delega- The Taliban have never
tion attend the opening session of peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban,
BRAVE Men and Women in Doha, Qatar. detailed the commitments
serving in Afghanistan Associated Press they made in the February
home by Christmas." peace agreement with the
On Wednesday, National ghanistan after 19 years The Taliban are "commit- risprudence and how it will U.S. to fight terrorists and
Security Adviser Robert was laid out in an agree- ted to the contents of the impact negotiations. Washington has refused to
O"Brien, speaking of Ameri- ment Washington reached agreement and hope for Still, both sides have stayed give details, citing security
can forces in Afghanistan, with the Taliban in Febru- good and positive relations at the negotiating table concerns.
told an audience in Las ary. However, that agree- with all countries, including even as Washington's Even as the warring sides
Vegas that "as of today, ment said U.S. troops would the U.S, in the future," he peace envoy Zalmay Khalil- meet in Doha to map out
there are under 5,000 and be out of Afghanistan in said. zad last week returned what a post-conflict Af-
that will go to 2,500 by early 18 months, provided the Trump's surprise tweet late to the region. Little infor- ghanistan might look like,
next year." Taliban honored a com- Wednesday came as the mation of substance has Washington and NATO
Yet when asked about his mitment to fight terrorist Taliban and the Afghan emerged from the talks. have already begun re-
tweet, Trump told Fox Busi- groups, with most attention government-appointed On Thursday, Khalilzad was ducing their troop numbers.
ness Channel: "We're down seemingly focused on the negotiating team are hold- in Pakistan with Gen. Aus- Washington is now down to
to 4,000 troops in Afghani- Islamic State group's affili- ing historic peace talks in tin Miller, commander of under 5,000 troops from an
stan. I'll have them home ate in the country. Doha, Qatar. U.S. forces in Afghanistan, estimated 13,000 when it
by the end of the year. Taliban spokesman Zabihul- Those talks have been meeting with Pakistan's signed the agreement with
They're coming home, lah Mujahed said Trump's painfully slow as both sides Army Chief of Staff Gen. the Taliban on Feb. 29.
you know, as we speak. statement was welcome have become bogged Qamar Jaaved Bajwa. Trump's comments caught
Nineteen years is enough. and he considered it a pos- down on the intricacies of Pakistan has helped shep- most Afghan observers by
They're acting as police- itive step for the implemen- how they would go forward herd the Taliban to the ne- surprise and the Afghan
men, OK? They're not act- tation of the peace agree- with reaching an agree- gotiating table and its role government did not imme-
ing as troops." ment between the U.S. and ment. Weeks have been is seen as critical for lasting diately respond to to the
America's exit from Af- the Taliban. spent discussing Islamic ju- peace in Afghanistan. tweet.q

Teen assumes Finland's PM post for a day in "Girls Takeover"

JARI TANNER makers, among others.
Associated Press (AP) — A 16-year-old girl Murto and Marin, one of the world's young-
ceremoniously assumed the post of Finn- est government leaders at 34 and the Nor-
ish prime minister for one day for the "Girls dic nation's third female prime minister,
Takeover" program — part of the U.N. In- discussed what tech-savvy Finland with 5.5
ternational Day of the Girl to raise more million residents could do to improve girls'
awareness of gender equality. opportunities to use and develop technol-
Aava Murto from the small village of ogy on a global basis.
Vaaksy in southern Finland stepped into Harassment that girls face online remains a
the shoes of Prime Minister Sanna Marin major issue worldwide, the stand-in prime
on Wednesday to highlight the impact of minister and the real one stressed in a joint
technology on gender equality, this year's statement.
theme for the annual event, the Finnish "Gender equality ambitions will fall short
government said. as long as girls are pushed aside from us-
"Girls' access to technology is a significant, ing and developing technology. Girls, too,
global equality issue that needs to be tak- have a digital future, and that is why girls Aava Murto, is photographed, in Helsinki, Finland, Wednesday,
en seriously," said Murto, who during her should have a voice in technology," Murto Oct. 7, 2020.
day met with Cabinet members and law- said. q Associated Press