Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban’s chief of army staff, on Wednesday dismissed US demands and described Donald Trump as “narrow-minded” for criticising the group’s parades featuring American-made weapons.
He said the Taliban is building an army of “150,000 to 200,000 personnel” and will not comply with Washington’s conditions.
Speaking to a Taliban-affiliated outlet on the fourth anniversary of the group’s return to power, Fitrat claimed the United States had created problems for them because they refused to meet US demands, though he did not specify what those demands were.
The senior Taliban official also responded to Trump’s comments about Bagram Airbase, insisting the group will not negotiate with foreign countries over its control. Fitrat said that because Taliban forces are stationed at Bagram and hold military parades there, Trump is “begrudging,” claiming the US had “many plans” for the base.
While the US and the Taliban maintain intelligence cooperation against Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K), Washington has pressed the group to change its policies on women and governance in Afghanistan. The US does not recognise the Taliban government, and it remains unclear what other demands Washington has made.
Marking the anniversary of the Taliban takeover, Fitrat said the Ministry of Defence now employs “between 150,000 and 200,000 military and civilian personnel.”
He added that new uniforms had been procured for Taliban forces and would be distributed soon.
Since seizing power, the Taliban have overhauled Afghanistan’s security institutions, removing many trained professional officers from the former Afghan government and replacing them with their own fighters.
