RASC News Agency: The Taliban has welcomed Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, expressing hope that the incoming administration will pursue expanded engagement with their regime. This gesture stands in sharp contrast to the Taliban’s domestic rhetoric, where they have long claimed a twenty-year “jihad” against the United States, presenting themselves as “mujahideen” who fought a foreign occupation. In response to Trump’s electoral success, the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs voiced optimism that the new U.S. administration will adopt pragmatic steps toward constructive engagement.
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, noted in a press statement on Wednesday November 6, that the Doha Agreement, signed during Trump’s first term, brought an end to the “twenty-year occupation” of Afghanistan. Balkhi further stated that the Taliban expects Mr. Trump to assume a constructive role in addressing ongoing conflicts around the globe, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon.
The Taliban’s stance reveals a dual approach: while they continue to label the U.S. as an occupying force, they simultaneously reach out for engagement, signaling a desire to establish diplomatic ties. Afghanistani citizens have criticized this approach, accusing the Taliban of misleading the public by using the guise of “jihad” against the U.S. while secretly seeking a rapprochement with Washington. Earlier today, Republican Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election with 277 electoral votes, defeating his Democratic rival Kamala Harris. This victory will bring Trump back to the White House for a second term; he previously served as president from 2017 to 2021.
During Trump’s first presidency, the U.S. and Taliban engaged in peace talks, culminating in the signing of the Doha Agreement. Under this accord, U.S. and NATO forces withdrew from Afghanistan. However, as the withdrawal began, violence surged across the country. Ultimately, the Afghanistan government fell, and the Taliban took control just before the U.S. completed its final departure.
