Taliban peace deal paves way for UK troops to come home
Historic agreement with US signed in Doha but Afghans fear insurgents may try to seize power
BRITAIN’S force of 1,100 troops in Afghanistan could be home by next spring under a historic agreement between the US and the Taliban aimed at bringing peace to the country.
The accord signed yesterday in Doha said the US would withdraw “all military forces of the United States, its allies, and coalition partners” within 14 months, if the deal holds.
The agreement – more than 18 years after George W Bush sent forces to topple the Taliban after the September 11 attacks – marks the most significant diplomatic attempt to end a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
Zalmay Khalilzad, Washington’s chief negotiator, and Mullah Baradar, the Taliban military leader-turned -dealmaker, signed the accord in a luxury hotel in the Qatari capital. They then shook hands, as people in the room shouted “God is greatest”.
Under the four-page agreement, the US and its allies will pull out all troops in return for Taliban assurances not to allow Afghanistan to again become a haven for international terrorists. The insurgent movement will also begin talks in 10 days’ time with the Afghan government on a political settlement and a permanent ceasefire.
Yet diplomats have warned peace is still a long way off and talks between the Taliban and Afghan leaders are likely to take years.
The US will cut troop numbers from 13,000 to 8,600 by mid-June. A separate 8,500-strong Nato force, which includes UK troops, will be withdrawn in parallel, meaning the first British personnel could leave within weeks. The Ministry of Defence said it was too early to discuss an exact time frame.
At the height of the campaign, Britain had more than 10,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen in the country. More than 450 died. Since 2014, British troops have focused on training and providing security to Kabul.
Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, called the deal a “small but important step towards the chance for Afghans to live in peace, free from terrorism”.
“We should never forget that much of this has been achieved through sacrifices made by the brave men and women of the UK armed forces,” Mr Wallace said. “I know how proud they are to have played their part, and the depth of the bonds many of them have forged with the people of Afghanistan.”
The ceremony marked the culmination of 18 months of negotiations.
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, one of the Taliban’s lead negotiators, hailed another “day of victory” in Afghanistan’s long history of repelling foreign powers.
“This is the kind of day that our ancestors celebrated after they defeated the British and the Soviets,” he said, as jubilant Taliban members took part in a march in Qatar.
However, Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, warned victory would only be achieved for Afghans “when they can live in peace and prosper”.
“Here’s our take,” he told the Taliban, “keep your promise to cut ties with al-Qaeda and other terrorists. Keep up the fight against Isis.”
The deal marks a timely political victory for Donald Trump, who had promised to end the US entanglement. “We are working to finally end America’s longest war and bring our troops back home,” he said.
President Trump last night said that he will meet with Taliban leaders in the “not-too-distant future”.
He added: “We’ll be very much hoping that they will be doing what they say they’re going to be doing – they will be killing terrorists. It’s time after all these years to bring our people back home. The other side’s tired of war. Everybody is tired of war. It’s been a particularly long and gruesome one.” He said if the Taliban lived up to their commitments, the war would be “over”. He added: “We can’t be the policeman for the world. If bad things happen, we’ll go back.”
There are, however, concerns in Kabul and Washington over whether the Taliban intend to stick to the deal.
“I don’t think the deal serves America because the Taliban have taken no steps to divorce themselves from alQaeda and other terrorist groups,” said Douglas London, a former CIA officer who served in Afghanistan.
Afghans worry they are being abandoned in Mr Trump’s hurry to fulfil a campaign promise ahead of November’s election.
The Taliban have given little detail of their demands for a political settlement, prompting fears they want a return to austere, oppressive rules.
‘This is the kind of day that our ancestors celebrated after they defeated the British and the Soviets’