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Taliban Warn Neighbors Against Hosting US Bases for Military Actions inside
Afghanistan

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - The Taliban called on Afghanistan's neighbors Wednesday not
   to allow the United States to use their territory or air space for any
   future military operations against the war-torn nation.
   The Islamist insurgent group issued the warning as Washington plans to
   reposition some U.S. troops in the region to carry out Afghan
   counterterrorism missions once U.S. and NATO militaries exit from the
   landlocked South Asia nation.

   The Taliban cautioned in their statement that facilitating U.S.
   military operations by neighboring countries in the future will be a
   "grave historical mistake and a disgrace." It denounced the presence of
   foreign forces as "the root cause" of insecurity and war in the region.
   "The people of Afghanistan will not remain idle in the face of such
   heinous and provocative acts," the group warned without elaborating
   further.
   President Joe Biden announced last month that the remaining an
   estimated 2,500 American troops, along with thousands of NATO partners,
   will leave Afghanistan by September 11 to end what he said was the
   "forever war."
   The drawdown stemmed from a peace-building agreement the United States
   signed with the Taliban in February 2020. But the insurgents have not
   reduced violence nor have their U.S.-brokered peace talks with the
   Afghan government achieved any breakthroughs, raising concerns the
   country would descend into more chaos and bloodshed once the foreign
   troop drawdown is complete.
   The pact binds the Taliban not to allow Afghan soil for terrorist
   attacks against the United States and its allies.
   However, continuing and intensified hostilities between the Afghan
   parties to the conflict have raised concerns that transnational
   terrorist groups, including al-Qaida and Islamic State, could turn
   Afghanistan again into a sanctuary.
   "As we have repeatedly assured others that our soil will not be used
   against security of others, we are similarly urging others not to use
   their soil and airspace against our country," the Taliban reiterated
   Wednesday.
   "If such a step is taken, then the responsibility for all the
   misfortunes and difficulties lies upon those who commit such mistakes."
   There are no U.S. bases in any of the six countries that border
   Afghanistan.
   Pakistan, which shares a 2,600-kilometer border with Afghanistan, on
   Tuesday ruled out the possibility of hosting a U.S. Base, or of
   allowing "kinetic drone" operations in Afghanistan from Pakistani soil.
   FILE - In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry, Special
   Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on
   Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov attends the talks in Islamabad, Pakistan,
   April 7, 2021.

   On Monday, Russia's presidential envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov,
   said Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have both assured Moscow that hosting
   military bases was "impossible" for them, narrowing options for
   Washington for its military posture once the withdrawal from
   Afghanistan is complete.
   Iran also shares a long border with Afghanistan, but Tehran's
   persistent tensions and mistrust with Washington, experts say, leave
   that option out.