The US welcomed Wednesday a ” major milestone” between the Afghangovernment and Taliban as they agreed on the procedure for intra-Afghantalks.

“The Agreement codifies the rules and procedures the two sides have beennegotiating since the start of talks,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeosaid in a statement. “The teams made a number of important decisions thatwill guide their negotiations on a political roadmap and a comprehensiveceasefire.”

Congratulating both sides on their willingness to find common ground,Pompeo said: “This achievement demonstrates that the Afghan IslamicRepublic and Taliban are serious, able to overcome differences, and readyto deal with difficult issues. What has been achieved provides hope theywill succeed in reaching a political settlement to this more thanforty-year-old conflict.”

He also thanked Qatar for its role as host and facilitator of the talks.

1100MW nuclear power plant in Karachi near completionlink

The secretary said the US, along with most of the international community,will continue to support the peace process.

The agreement marked the first major development since the launch ofintra-Afghan talks between the Kabul government and the Taliban in theQatari capital Doha on Sep. 12.