Taliban Insists There Will Be No New Government In Afghanistan Until All US Troops Leave

An illustration of a high-ranking Taliban leader. (Twitter/@suhailshaeen1)

JAKARTA - The Taliban will not form a new government until all US troops leave the country, insisting all foreign troops must complete their withdrawal by August 31.

The Taliban militia insists it will not form a new government until the withdrawal of US troops from the country is complete, local media reported Monday citing Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid.

"There will be no new government in Afghanistan until the last US soldiers leave the country. We will be self-sufficient. Our people yearn for economic reforms," he said, according to the report citing TASS Aug. 23.

Earlier, the spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Qatar Muhammad Muhammad Suhail Shaheen said it would view the US military presence in Afghanistan after August 31 as an occupation.

The Taliban confirmed the deadline for the withdrawal of US-led foreign troops to be August 31, rejecting a proposed extension related to the evacuation of civilians at Kabul airport.

"If the United States or Britain seeks additional time to resume evacuations, the answer is no. There will be consequences," he said, citing Arab News Monday, August 23.

While telling the BBC, Shaheen said the decision had been made by the Taliban leadership, as was the reaction to such moves.

"Foreign troops have to withdraw by the deadline they have previously announced. Otherwise, it is a clear violation," Shaheen stressed. He did not specify what the consequences would be, only saying it would be decided by the Taliban leadership.

However, he said the Taliban would not deter Afghans who wanted to leave, if they had proper documentation. Shaheen said people could still go on commercial flights through Kabul airport after the deadline for foreign troops to leave on August 31.