The US has reportedly reached an ‘understanding’ with the Taliban and a peace agreement will be signed next week, according to Pompeo:
POLITICO – U.S. officials and the Taliban have reached an “understanding” that could result in a “reduction in violence” in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday, paving the way for an agreement later this month that would bring to an end America’s longest war.
“After decades of conflict, we have come to an understanding with the Taliban on a significant reduction in violence across #Afghanistan,” Pompeo wrote on Twitter, describing the latest development as “an important step on a long road to peace,” and calling on Afghans “to seize this opportunity.”
After decades of conflict, we have come to an understanding with the Taliban on a significant reduction in violence across #Afghanistan. This is an important step on a long road to peace, and I call on all Afghans to seize this opportunity.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) February 21, 2020
In a more substantial statement released by the State Department, Pompeo offered further details regarding the “extensive talks” between the two parties, which he said are intended to “facilitate a political settlement to end the war in Afghanistan, reduce United States and Allied Forces presence, and ensure that no terrorist group ever uses Afghan soil to threaten the United States or our allies.”
Pompeo said that U.S. negotiators in Doha, Qatar, arrived at the understanding with the Taliban in recent weeks in consultation with the Afghan government. Upon the “successful implementation” of the understanding, “signing of the U.S.-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward” at the end of February, Pompeo said.
“Intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter, and will build on this fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for Afghanistan,” Pompeo said. “The only way to achieve a sustainable peace in Afghanistan is for Afghans to come together and agree on the way forward.”
He added that “challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity.”
When Pompeo says the end of February, he means the 29th, which is just a week from tomorrow:
From the plane with @SecPompeo: State says the US and Taliban will sign a peace deal Feb. 29 in Doha. Negotiations between the Taliban and Afghan government will start soon after. “Challenges remain but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity.”
— Nicholas Wadhams (@nwadhams) February 21, 2020
I would add that’s not much time for this ‘understanding’ to be implemented, whatever that might be.
I have to admit I’m conflicted over this. On the one hand I’m glad we’re finally leaving Afghanistan. For years many of us have been wondering why we are even still there, with US soldiers frequently being killed in back-stabbing terrorist attacks. But on the other hand, we’re making a peace agreement with the Taliban, the very group which gave safe haven to Osama bin Laden and his training camps that led to 9/11. If this isn’t a sign of defeat, I don’t know what is…