PEACE DEAL TO END AMERICA’S WAR WITH THE TALIBAN
▶ Troop withdrawal in Afghanistan to start in summer after 18-year conflict
The United States and the Taliban signed a deal yesterday to begin the end of America’s longest war.
The deal laid out how the US will begin withdrawing troops with a reduction from about 12,000 soldiers to 8,600 over the next 135 days with the rest leaving over the next 14 months.
The withdrawal will depend on the Taliban upholding their promise to cut ties with international terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and to not use Afghan soil to host groups opposed to America.
The war, that started with the US invasion in Afghanistan in October 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks, has killed tens of thousands of people, as well as about 3,500 US and coalition troops.
US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, who visited Kabul yesterday, said the agreement will “pave the way for Afghan negotiations, so that a permanent ceasefire may be achieved”.
“This will only happen if Afghans join together to embrace this opportunity,” Mr Esper said.
The defence secretary flew to Kabul for an afternoon to meet President Ashraf Ghani and Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Ahead of the signing ceremony in Doha, they addressed the nation in Kabul.
“Thanks to Trump’s leadership, we are making progress in ending America’s longest wars,” Mr Esper said, adding that “we join with real hope for the future of Afghanistan”.
For over a year, America and the Taliban have been negotiating a deal that could end the fighting and begin the withdrawal of international troops. At a ceremony in Doha yesterday, Zalmay Khalilzad, the lead US negotiator, sat with representatives of the Taliban to sign the deal.
The document lays out the next steps for the country and, while it doesn’t end the war overnight, it offers a way forward for both US troop withdrawal and the beginning of an intra-Afghan dialogue between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
“In the last week, we have seen a reduction in violence,” Mr Ghani said from his palace in Kabul. “This will help in direct negotiations with the Taliban. All people of Afghanistan are looking forward to permanent peace.”
Although a first step has been laid out, many believe that intra-Afghan talks might pose a bigger challenge.
Hours before the deal, the Taliban ordered all its fighters in Afghanistan “to refrain from any kind of attack ... for the happiness of the nation”.
Taliban chief Hibatullah Akhundzada called on all fighters to respect the deal and said all male and female compatriots will be given their “due rights”.
Mr Stoltenberg, the head of the international alliance that has a significant presence in Afghanistan, said the UN supports the agreement and is ready to withdraw forces in accordance with the terms.
“Peace is long and hard and we have to be prepared for setbacks and spoilers ... Nato supports this peace deal,” he said.
While Mr Stoltenberg said the force was ready to reduce its numbers, it could increase its presence again if the situation deteriorated.
According to the agreement
American forces could leave Afghanistan within 14 months.
But Mr Esper made clear that all the points being signed were linked – they must all be implemented by the Taliban for the deal to go ahead.
“I would like to say it with full clarity: all the points in the agreement are conditional. They will only be implemented if the Taliban respects and implements the conditions.
The withdrawal of forces depends on it,” he said during a ceremony in Kabul acknowledging the signing of yesterday’s deal.
Mr Ghani also sought to ease concerns over the next phase for the country if international forces start to leave.
“We have security agreements with the US and Nato and they have been approved by the National Assembly of Afghanistan and these agreements remain intact,” he said.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in Doha to oversee the signing ceremony.
He said the agreement would mean nothing if concrete action is not taken on commitments and promises.
Mr Pompeo also said the Taliban have shown they have the will to be peaceful by putting in place in the past week an agreement on reducing violence.
Shortly after the deal was signed, the UN said it was ready to support an Afghan-led peace process that includes women, minorities and young people.
One of the main concerns for many in Afghanistan is the future of hard-fought rights for these groups if the ultra-conservative Taliban are allowed back into government.
The UN also urged the continuation of the reduced violence agreement, which came into force a week ago, of which Mr Esper said: “Some incidents happened, but most lived a peaceful week. This will help in direct negotiations with the Taliban and all people of Afghanistan are looking forward to a permanent peace in Afghanistan.”
In the document signed yesterday, Washington said it will work with partners, including Nato, to reduce their forces at the same time.
The final pull-out will take place within 14 months.
Meanwhile, the Taliban and the Kabul government will be gin talks on the future of the country and the US will foster discussions and aim for confidence-boosting measures such as prisoner releases by both sides.
“We are committed to start direct negotiations after the declaration in Doha has been signed.
“We have sent a contact team to Doha to discuss the details and the agenda for the direct negotiations between the government and the Taliban, but preparations are generally complete,” said Afghan State Ministry of Peace Senior Adviser Shoaib Rahim.
He said a 15-member negotiation team was created months ago after rounds of consultations.
“They are prepared to start talks whenever decided.”
The deal says the US will remain committed to good relations and economic co-operation with the government in Kabul.
Officials and experts said Mr Esper’s meeting in Kabul yesterday was aimed at reassuring the Afghan government of the ongoing US commitment to the country before the deal.
“No agreement is perfect, and the US-Taliban deal is no exception,” said Crisis Group’s president, Robert Malley.
“But it represents the most hopeful step to end a war that has lasted two decades and taken countless American and especially Afghan lives. It ought to be celebrated, bolstered and built upon to reach a genuine intra-Afghan peace.”
The points in the agreement will be implemented only if the Taliban respect the conditions MARK ESPER US Secretary of Defence