US and Taliban sign peace agreement
The United States signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in Qatar that will pave the way for the US to gradually withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and the launch of intra-Afghan negotiations.
U.S. special envoy, head of delegation Zalmay Khalilzad, signed on behalf of the United States, and the Taliban’s political chief, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, signed for the Taliban. Representatives of more than 30 countries attended the signing ceremony.
“The agreement was the result of many efforts. We confirm that Afghanistan will never again serves as a base for terrorists,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, delivering a speech at the ceremony.
Under the deal signed, the United States will draw down from the 12,000 troops currently in Afghanistan to 8,600 troops in 135 days. The deal calls for a full withdrawal of the US and NATO troops in 14 months if the Taliban lives up to its commitments. The Taliban, in turn, “will not allow to use the soil of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the United States and its allies,” the agreement says.
In addition, the parties agreed on a “permanent and comprehensive truce.” Direct negotiations between the Taliban and the Government of Afghanistan will be conducted as part of the inter-Afghan dialogue. Also, the Taliban will begin to work with the UN Security Council.
In turn, Mullah Baradar, said in brief comments that the group was “committed to implementing this agreement with the United States”, and added that the agreement reached is “a great achievement" of the Taliban.
It is worth to note that the peace deal is followed more than a year and a half of the US-Taliban negotiations in Doha. Seven days ago, under mutual agreement of the parties, the Taliban began a seven-day “reduction of violence” period.
With the signing the agreement between the United States and the Taliban, intra-Afghan negotiations will be launched in the country, giving a great hope to bring a peace in Afghanistan.
