U.S., TALIBAN REACH PACT TO REDUCE VIOLENCE

MUNICH/WASHINGTON The U.S. has reached agreement with the Taliban on a weeklong reduction of violence that could lead to a U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, a senior administration official said on Friday, while cautioning that the insurgents must honour commitments for the accord to stick.

The deal was struck in protracted negotiations in the Qatari capital Doha and was announced after a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

The accord could pave the way for an agreement by the end of the month on a U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, a long-sought objective for U.S. President Donald Trump, who has vowed to stop the “endless wars” as he seeks re-election.

There were no immediate comments from Ghani’s government or the Taliban.

There remains a long way to go to a peace settlement and end to the nearly twodecade-old U.S. military presence that began shortly after the 9/11 attacks. U.S. officials have been clear that the 13,000 U.S. troops will be cut to about 8,600 this year, with or without a withdrawal deal.

The reduction in violence agreement “is a good step on a very long road,” said Ronald Neumann, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.