*sTaliban: swap should not be regarded as a gesture of good will*

[depotoo]

So we have it, the taliban say this will not lead to peace in Afghanistan.
Anyone surprised?
Afghans say Taliban prisoners freed by U.S. will rejoin battle | Reuters

"The Taliban denied the prisoners would return to battle but said the swap should not be regarded as a gesture of good will or a step towards the revival of peace talks between Islamist insurgents and the Afghan government."This is purely a negotiation between the Taliban and the Americans... It won't help the peace process in any way, because we don't believe in the peace process," said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid."

 

[Little-Acorn]

A "gesture of good will" toward terrorists whose aim is to destroy us?

Wow, the comedy is really rolling now.....

 

[Katzndogz]

The people of this culture don't understand gestures of good will. They understand Victory and Defeat.

 

[depotoo]

BBC News - Taliban's Mullah Omar celebrates prisoner-swap 'victory'
"But sources close to the Taliban say that the deal took so long to negotiate because of a US desire to widen the scope of the talks. They say that this precise deal was on the table three years ago, but the negotiations failed because the US wanted to extend the talks into areas beyond a prisoner swap."

Exactly, and more, the taliban stated the exchange failed previously because they didn't want any conditions put on the swap by the US, such as an opening to peace talks. Nothing has changed.

 

[JakeStarkey]

No one considers the exchange a gesture of good will.

 

[depotoo]

No one considers the exchange a gesture of good will.

The taliban don't. Nor do many Afghans.

And I have stated I am glad Bergdahl is back. It's just whether the costs with this exchange will be too high.