The Afghan insurgent group, the Taliban, has threatened US and NATO troops in Afghanistan with “countermeasures” for extending their presence beyond the 1 May deadline, as agreed in the Doha deal. The group said the Doha deal was violated by the United States. 

 “As the agreement is being breached by America, it in principle opens the way for the Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate to take every necessary countermeasure, hence the American side will be held responsible for all future consequences, and not the Islamic Emirate,” the insurgent group said on Thursday in response to the US announcement of withdrawing forces by September 11. 

America would be responsible for all future consequences, the group said, adding “America can’t be trusted nor is committed to its pledges and promises.” The group also stressed that the US failed to terminate the blacklisting of its leaders. 

On the other hand, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, on Thursday warned the group against attacking withdrawing forces, saying they would respond if attacked. 

US and NATO troops are all set to withdraw from Afghanistan by 11 September. Significantly the new deadline coincides with the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the US. 

The insurgent group has plainly refused to participate in any peace conference on Afghanistan as long as foreign troops remain present in the war-torn country. Turkey is scheduled to host an UN-led conference on 26 April, but the fate of the conference now hangs in the balance.