The Taliban announced an endorsement of President Donald Trump's reelection campaign on Friday applauding his move to pull U.S. military troops out of Afghanistan
The endorsement, made by Zabihullah Mujahid, came just as other Taliban leaders wished the president a speedy recovery from COVID-19.
'We hope he will win the election and wind up U.S. military presence in Afghanistan,' Mujahid told CBS News.
Another Taliban leader added: 'When we heard about Trump being COVID-19 positive, we got worried for his health, but seems he is getting better.'
Tim Murtaugh, Trump's campaign spokesman, said on Saturday that they 'reject' the endorsement.
'The Taliban should know that the president will always protect American interests by any means necessary,' Murtaugh added.
Currently, there are fewer than 5,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. That number is expected to drop to 2,500 by early next year, national security adviser Robert O'Brien has claimed.
The Taliban and the Trump administration have found common ground in trying to get American troops out of the country.
In February, the two parties signed a pact where they planned to have troops withdrawn by the spring of 2021. The Taliban is required to split from al Qaeda and negotiate a deal for sharing power with Afghan government rivals.
President Trump announced this week that all troops should be 'home by Christmas,' almost in exact contrast to the timeline that most U.S. military commanders have.
'We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas,' he tweeted.
The Taliban has expressed support for Trump's 'America first' stance.
'It is the slogan of Trump from the start that they are not cops for the world and don't want a single flag and anthem for the globe, but their priority is America,' Mujahid said.
Other members of the Taliban believe the president is honest.
'Honestly, Trump was much more honest with us than we thought, even we were stunned with his offer to meet Taliban in Camp David,' one leader said.
And while the Taliban acknowledged that the president could be a sore for other members of the international community, he is currently someone they think highly of.
'Trump might be ridiculous for the rest of the world, but he is sane and wise man for the Taliban,' a senior Taliban member said.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
