Trump Rejects Idea Of Talks With Taliban, Says ‘We Are Going To Finish What We Have To Finish’

United States President Donald Trump has rejected the possibility of holding talks with the Taliban anytime soon in view of a series of deadly attacks in Afghanistan in the past few months, Reuters has reported.

The rejection of talks comes as a blow to Pakistan, which holds considerable influence over various factions of the Taliban. Islamabad was expecting the pressure put on it through the new Afghanistan policy to ease when the Taliban comes to the table. The new US strategy for Afghanistan focuses on reversing the gains made by the Taliban and elimination of terror safe havens provided by Pakistan. The US has been building pressure on Pakistan, demanding it to act against terror safe heavens and ending support to the Taliban. As its first move, the Trump administration has suspended around $2 billion in aid to Pakistan. It has also intensified drone attacks, targeting members of the Taliban and the Haqqani Network, reports say.

Trump administration’s decision to not hold talks, experts say, could be based on the US’ willingness to weaken the Taliban to prevent it from negotiating from a position of strength and demanding concessions.

“I don’t see any talking taking place,” Trump told reporters before a meeting with members of the United Nations Security Council. “I don’t think we’re prepared to talk right now. It’s a whole different fight over there. They’re killing people left and right. Innocent people are being killed left and right,” he noted.

"We're going to finish what we have to finish" in Afghanistan, he said.

Trump’s statement came after the Taliban offered to hold talks with representatives from Pakistan, China, Qatar and ‘others’, Voice Of America reported.

The US’ new strategy for Afghanistan appears to be more in line with India’s position than it has ever been in the past. India has been calling for the elimination of the support structure provided by Pakistan to the Taliban for years and has also urged all players to have minimal engagement with the Taliban.

Afghanistan has welcomed Trump’s statement. According to Afghanistan’s ambassador to the United Nations, Mahmoud Saikal, fighting needed to continue against certain elements of the Taliban.

“There are two categories of Taliban: One is the reconcilable elements who are in touch with us, who are talking to us, and one is the irreconcilable,” Saikal said.

“The irreconcilables and those who have chosen to fight, we need to fight. We need to fight against them, we need to have the capability to withstand against them and to defend our people,” he added.