Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanakzai (R), head of the Taliban’s political council in Qatar, during talks in Russia. November 9, 2018. © Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters
NBC: Taliban greets Pentagon's withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan with cries of victory
"The 17-year long struggle and sacrifices of thousands of our people finally yielded fruit," said a senior commander in Helmand.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — News that the White House had ordered the Pentagon to draw up plans for a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan provoked widespread criticism that the move would kneecap efforts to broker a peace deal to end America's longest war.
But there was one group on Friday celebrating the reports — the Taliban.
Senior members told NBC News the news was a clear indication they were on the verge of victory.
“The 17-year-long struggle and sacrifices of thousands of our people finally yielded fruit," said a senior Taliban commander from Afghanistan’s Helmand province. "We proved it to the entire world that we defeated the self-proclaimed world’s lone super power."
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WNU Editor: The Taliban have been boasting of victory for 17 years. They are still a long way from winning this war. As for the Afghan military .... they are seeing this as a major blow .... A blow to morale: Afghan generals worry about US withdrawal (AP).
