Trump says Taliban talks have ‘no timeline’
President Donald Trump says U.S. talks with the
Taliban are on “no timeline” for reaching a resolution to the nearly
18-year-old war, which has claimed more than 2,400 Americans.
Trump told reporters Monday at the Group of Seven
summit in France that the U.S. is talking with the Taliban, the Afghan
government and others, but is in “no rush” and has “no timeline” for the
discussions.
The U.S. and the Taliban appear to be closing in on
an agreement under which U.S. forces would withdraw in exchange for guarantees
that Afghanistan would not become a haven for other terrorist groups.
The U.S. is trying to get the Taliban to agree to
stop fighting and sit down with the Kabul government, but violence has
continued with large attacks in the capital
President Donald Trump has missed a discussion on
climate with other world leaders at the Group of Seven summit in France.
Trump was scheduled to attend Monday’s session on
climate, biodiversity and oceans, but his chair was empty during a portion of
the meeting reporters were allowed to witness.
French President Emmanuel Macron says that while
Trump didn’t attend, his aides were there.
The president started the morning behind schedule.
His meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel was delayed about two hours.
He then met with India’s Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, where he was asked about attending the climate session.
He said it would be his next stop and that he wants
clean air and water.
Trump is a climate change skeptic who once had claimed
it’s a hoax that was invented by the Chinese.
President Donald Trump says he thinks Pakistan and
India will be able to work out a resolution over the disputed Himalayan region
of Kashmir on their own without his help.
In July, India rejected Trump’s offer to mediate and
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi again told reporters at the Group of Seven
summit in France that Kashmir is a bilateral issue. India has long refused
outside attempts to resolve the conflict while Pakistan has sought
international help.
Trump said Monday that he’s available to help
mediate, but Modi told him that he has the situation “under control.”
India and Pakistan have fought two wars over
Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of arming insurgents who have been fighting
since 1989 for Kashmir’s independence from India or its merger with Pakistan.
Islamabad denies the charge. About 70,000 people have been killed in the
conflict.
President Donald Trump says there’s been no
resolution on the fate of scores of Islamic State group fighters in U.S.
custody.
Trump says he’s raising the issue as he meets with
leaders attending the Group of Seven summit in France.
He commented during a one-on-one meeting with German
Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The president says it’s unfair for the U.S. to pay
to keep these fighters. He says many of them came from Europe — including
Germany — and he wants Europe to take them back.
Merkel says her country has already taken in many
immigrant families but says the European Union is committed to solving the
issue.
Trump also says he hopes not to have to impose
tariffs on imports of European autos and auto parts as he has threatened.
President Donald Trump says his private golf resort
near Miami is the likely venue for next year’s Group of Seven summit. He says
no decision has been made, but claims no other venue under consideration
matches what his resort — Trump National Doral — can offer.
This year’s G-7 summit is ending Monday in France
and the U.S. is hosting the 2020 gathering of the seven nations.
Trump says the property, which is just minutes from
the Miami airport, has a lot of acreage and properties that would allow
delegations from each G-7 country to have its own building.
President Donald Trump says he wasn’t surprised when
French President Emmanuel Macron invited Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif
to Biarritz in a bid to open talks meant on lowering tensions.
Trump says he did not want to get into when Macron
talked to him about Zarif. He says: “He asked me. I don’t consider that
disrespectful at all, especially when he asked me for approval.”
For several months, Macron has assumed a lead role
in trying to save the 2015 nuclear accord, which has been unraveling since
Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement.
Trump had curtly told reporters he had “no comment”
on Zarif’s presence. Officials said the White House was not aware in advance of
the invitation to Zarif.
Trump’s comments come Monday as he meets with world
leaders at the Group of Seven summit in France.
President Donald Trump says serious negotiations
with China will begin after the U.S. received two “very good calls” from
Beijing.