MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Will Trump remove American troops from Afghanistan? Taliban endorses his presidency and hopes he wins election

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told CBS News, 'We hope he will win the election and wind up US military presence in Afghanistan'

On Friday, October 9, President Donald Trump received a vote of support from the Taliban. In a telephonic conversation, organization spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told CBS News, “We hope he will win the election and wind up US military presence in Afghanistan.”

The organization also showed concern about Trump getting infected by the coronavirus. “When we heard about Trump being Covid-19 positive, we got worried for his health, but seems he is getting better,” another Taliban senior leader told CBS News. However, on Saturday, October 10, Tim Murtaugh, Trump campaign spokesman said that they “reject” the Taliban's support. “The Taliban should know that the president will always protect American interests by any means necessary,” Murtaugh said. According to the report, the Taliban's support for the POTUS is rooted in the interest of getting US troops out of Afghanistan after 19 years of war. Currently, there are fewer than 5,000 US troops in Afghanistan, and national security adviser Robert O'Brien has reportedly said that the number would be decreased to about 2,500 by early next year.

In February, as per the report, the Trump administration had signed a pact with the Taliban. The US and its allies had set a timetable for US troops to withdraw if the Taliban keeps its commitments. It included that the Taliban to break away from al-Qaeda and an agreement between the group and the Afghan government. Trump had earlier tweeted that: “We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!” But, as the report states it is unclear if that will happen or whether he was just restating his position on wanting to bring troops home.

Taliban’s vote of support was discussed on Twitter. One user alleged, “And now the Taliban have endorsed him, because of course they did. I mean why wouldn’t they if they can collect those sweet bounties on our warfighters and he looks the other way?” Another tweeted, “So the Taliban is endorsing Trump! This is a fine group of supporters, Proud Bois, Right-wingers, Russians, N. Koreans, and the Taliban! All I know is if I had lost a parent/child in Iraq/Syria, the last person I'd vote for president is the candidate supported by the Taliban.” Another stated, “Wow, if true....this says it all. "Trump has been endorsed by the Taliban. No, really, the Taliban.”

A tweet read: “Have you told the families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan that Trump was officially endorsed by the #Taliban?” One commented, “Trump was endorsed by The Taliban today. This is all you need to know when you go vote.  Also, if this tweet doesn’t make sense to you, then you’re a bigger f**king idiot then I give you credit for.” “Okay. I know that Trump’s campaign rejected the Taliban’s endorsements whatever... but isn’t it a bit of a red flag that one of the candidates has the support of a terrorist group??” asked anoher. One user quipped, “Regardless that Trump's party rejected or accepted the Taliban's support, shouldn't this raise major red flags in regards to national security?”

These remarks were made by the Internet and individual organizations, MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) cannot confirm them independently and nor does it support these claims being made on the Internet.