The Islamic fundamentalist Taliban on Tuesday recognized Joe Biden as America’s president-elect, while also calling on Biden to honor a troop reduction agreement negotiated in February during President Donald Trump’s tenure.
The statement: “The Islamic Emirate would like to stress to the new American president-elect and future administration that implementation of the agreement is the most reasonable and effective tool for ending the conflict between both our countries,” the Afghanistan-based militant organization said in a statement, according to Reuters.
- Under Trump, who as part of his 2016 campaign platform vowed to stop America’s policy of embarking on “endless wars,” the United States has been gradually withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.
- In an October tweet, the president said American troops could be fully pulled out of the South Asian nation by Christmas.
- On Monday, Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper, reportedly in part due to Esper’s opposition to ramping up troop withdrawals in Afghanistan.
The resistance: Trump and his supporters are likely to view the Taliban’s recognition of Biden’s presidential legitimacy with disdain.
- Citing alleged voting irregularities at various key polling locations, Trump has repeatedly claimed in recent days that the election was “stolen” from him, vowed not to concede the presidency and launched legal challenges to address purported voter fraud in multiple states.
- Trump supporters have expressed disappointment with world leaders, such as Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, who have recognized Biden as president-elect.
- China, after initially refusing to acknowledge Biden as the next American president, on Friday recognized Biden as president-elect.
Russian president Vladimir Putin, Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador are among the major world leaders who have yet to recognize Biden.
