Reuters and Voice of America are reporting that Taliban officials have told them that the United States and the Taliban now have a draft, specifying a withdraw of foreign troops from Afghanistan, in 18 months.
The Taliban have agreed that Afghanistan will not be used as a base for terrorism against the United States or its allies, which has been the U.S. justification for its presence and war in Afghanistan, for many long years.
There would be a ceasefire, with the Taliban willing to engage in talks with the Afghan government, once the ceasefire is implemented.
There is no confirmation of the deal from the U.S. side, whether by official acknowledgment or quote from anonymous official. VOA says the reaction of Afghan president Ashraf Ghani was negative.
News sources including the New York Times reported yesterday on progress in talks, saying a draft agreement seemed closex. The appointment of Abdul Ghani Baradar, as head of the Taliban’s negotiating office in Qatar was taken as a positive sign.
Here are Reuters and VOA on the draft deal:
Up until now, the Taliban has repeatedly rejected the Afghan government’s offer of holding talks, preferring instead to talk directly to the U.S. side, which it regards as its main enemy.
“In 18 months if the foreign forces are withdrawn and ceasefire is implemented then other aspects of the peace process can be put into action,” a Taliban source said, quoting from a portion of the draft.
Fresh talks on the draft are expected in February, again in the Qatari capital Doha, the Taliban sources said.
They expect their side to be led by new political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the movement’s co-founder and a former military commander who was released from prison in Pakistan last year.
Foreign troops to quit Afghanistan in 18 months under draft deal: Taliban officials,
Foreign troops to quit Afghanistan in 18 months under draft deal: Taliban officials, Abdul Qadir Sediqi, Jibran Ahmad, and Rupam Jain, Reuters
The understanding is the outcome of nearly a week of intense and uninterrupted dialogue between U.S. and insurgent representatives in Doha, Qatar. Representatives of the host government and Pakistan have also been in attendance.
The sources told VOA they expected the two negotiating sides to announce the withdrawal plan as early as Saturday and at the latest by Monday, if all goes as planned. The U.S. drawdown plan would require the Taliban to observe a cease-fire. However, both the withdrawal and the cease-fire will be “limited and conditional.” Sources, however, do not rule out the possibility of President Donald Trump announcing the final agreement with the Taliban at his State of the Union speech now that the U.S. government shutdown has ended.
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Speaking during the World Economic Forum meeting this week in Davos, President Ghani for the first time publicly criticized the Khalilzad-led peace effort and indicated the Afghan government may not accept any possible outcome of the Doha talks.
U.S.-Taliban Agree on Troop Withdrawal Plan, Sources Tell VOA, Ayaz Gul, Voice of America