* US-Taliban sign historic troop withdrawal deal in Doha
* Deal could see foreign forces leave Afghanistan in 14 months
* Esper visits Kabul to meet Afghan president
The United States signed a deal with Taliban insurgents on Saturday 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.
While the agreement creates a path for the United States to gradually pull out of its longest war, many expect the talks to come between the Afghan sides may be much more complicated.
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 Defence 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.
from Gulf Times https://ift.tt/2I9cy4J
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