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KABUL/WASHINGTON, Feb 21
The US and Taliban will sign an agreement on February 29 at the end of a week-long period of “violence reduction” in Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Taliban announced on Friday.
The agreement could represent a chance for peace after 18 years of war and a US troop presence that dates back to 2001, as well as boosting US President Donald Trump’s hopes of pulling American forces out of Afghanistan. However, past attempts at negotiating peace agreements have been scuttled by Taliban attacks on international forces.
At negotiating table since 2018
The reduced violence period, to be observed by Afghan, international and Taliban forces, will begin at midnight (1930 GMT), an Afghan official and Taliban leaders said. “Following lengthy negotiations between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the USA, both parties agreed to sign the finalised accord in the presence of international observers,” a Taliban spokesman said. Both sides would also make arrangements for release of prisoners, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
Separately, Pompeo said in a statement that the US and the Taliban had been engaged in talks to facilitate a political settlement in Afghanistan and to reduce the US presence in the region. “The agreement will be signed upon the successful implementation of an understanding with the Taliban on a significant and nationwide reduction in violence,” Pompeo added.
The agreement will be signed in Doha between Taliban representatives and US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been leading the US’ negotiation team, a senior State Department official said. Trump, who has vowed to stop “endless wars” as he seeks re-election in November, has long sought to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan.
NATO, which currently has 16,000 troops in Afghanistan, welcomed Friday’s announcement, calling the reduced violence period a critical test of the Taliban’s willingness to contribute to peace. The period could pave the way for sustainable peace and negotiations among Afghans, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.
Officials privy to the talks had said last week that an agreement with the Taliban would be followed by negotiations on an intra-Afghan political settlement between the Taliban and an Afghan delegation that would include government officials.
Members of the Afghan delegation are yet to be announced. — Reuters
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