US, Taliban deal brings war鈥檚 end a little closer
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THE United States signed a deal with Taliban insurgents yesterday that could pave the way toward a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan over the next 14 months and represent a step toward ending the 18-year-war in the nation.
The deal was signed in the Qatari capital Doha by US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on hand to witness the ceremony.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that while the accord would be a good step, the road ahead would not be easy.
“This is a hopeful moment, but it is only the beginning. The road ahead will not be easy. Achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan will require patience and compromise among all parties,” said Esper, who met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul where they announced a joint declaration in parallel to the US-Taliban accord.
The United States said it is committed to reducing the number of its troops in Afghanistan to 8,600 — from the current 13,000 — within 135 days of signing the deal, and working with its allies to proportionally reduce the number of coalition forced in Afghanistan over that period, if the Taliban adhere to their commitments.
A full withdrawal of all US and coalition forces would occur within 14 months of the deal being signed, if the Taliban hold up their end of the deal, the joint statement said.
For US President Donald Trump, the Doha deal represents a chance to make good on his promise to bring US troops home.
“Today is a monumental day for Afghanistan,” the US Embassy in Kabul said on Twitter. “It is about making peace and crafting a common brighter future. We stand with Afghanistan.”
Ghani said he hoped the Doha deal paves the way toward lasting peace. “We hope the US-Taliban peace will lead to a permanent cease-fire ... The nation is looking forward to a full cease-fire.” The Afghan government said it stood ready to negotiate with the Taliban.
Separately, NATO pledged to adjust the coalition troop levels in the first phase too, bringing down its numbers to about 12,000 from roughly 16,000 troops at present.
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