President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday said that he caused the “withdrawal of Americans from Afghanistan with dignity” and that he wrote a letter to former US president Donald Trump two years ago to leave Afghanistan.

“Did I ask them (the US) any day to remain here? Didn’t I say seven years ago that they will leave? Didn’t I send a letter to President Trump two years ago to leave?” he added.

 He said he sees the Taliban responsible for the ongoing violence in the country in which at least 200 to 600 people are killed every day.

Addressing a gathering in Khost province, Ghani asked the nation to stay united in support of independence, the republic and coexistence.  “The Taliban is responsible for the continuation of the war,” Ghani said. “The Taliban should be asked: Who are they are fighting for? Who will benefit if Afghanistan is ruined and if Afghans are killed?”

He added that they should also be asked if they are fighting for Afghanistan, or if they want the country to be controlled by others?

“If you love Afghanistan, promise me you have not accepted the Durand Line, promise me not to change Afghanistan from a roundabout to a one-way road, promise me you will not sell Afghanistan’s waters to others, promise me you will not serve others,” President Ghani said, directing the question at the Taliban.

He added that no one has doubts about where the Taliban comes from and where it is living.

“We want peace with everyone…. If 200 to 400 to 600 Afghans are killed every day, who will benefit from this? … I will tell you about Arghandab. They destroyed three bridges that cost at least $15 million, they bombed 1,000 homes,” Ghani said. 

He added that they are expected to sit with each other in future, so this should not happen today.  “Nothing is built through disunity,” Ghani said.
“If we started the war, I am telling you they will be blamed for it,” Ghani said, referring to the Taliban.  

“The Afghan government has made many efforts to move the peace process forward and wants peace, but the Taliban continued violence,” Ghani said. “They (Taliban) should attend the talks and not ruin their country being led by outsiders.”  

He mentioned that the fighting has not been lost on the battlefields, but it has been due to rumors and propaganda, indirectly referring to the recent loss of territory by Afghan forces to the Taliban.  

“I call on all Afghans to become united like the Khost residents and stand firm; otherwise, you will be responsible for six generations,” Ghani added.    

The Taliban has not reacted to these remarks so far.