KABUL—Shahbuddin Delawar declared the Doha process fully inclusive because every important Taliban attended, while other Afghans were generously permitted to discover what had been agreed after losing their country.
Delawar said women's rights were never part of the deal, proving the Taliban had faithfully honored every promise it remembered making.
He accused Mike Pompeo of setting a trap by allowing Fawzia Koofi into negotiations. The trap succeeded when Koofi spoke, briefly creating the dangerous impression that Afghanistan contained people outside the Taliban.
Washington got its withdrawal, the Taliban got Kabul, and the Republic discovered it had attended its own eviction.
Koofi, overcome with nostalgia, asked whether Ashraf Ghani and the Republic could return. She admitted the gentlemen she once negotiated with had become considerably less charming after acquiring the country.
Delawar offered sympathy. “Fawzia Jan, welcome to Hotel Kandahar. You can check out, but you can never leave.”
Koofi asked whether Ghani could at least return for another round of talks.
“Of course,” Delawar replied. “He may return whenever he likes. We even reserved him a room next to Dr. Najibullah's.”
Koofi requested a flight to Dubai.
Delawar smiled. “You helped us check in, Fawzia Jan. Now you're complaining about the hospitality.”