ISLAMABAD – Afghans woke up to a week-long partial truce Saturday after theTaliban, the US and local forces all agreed to a lull that could be a majorturning point in the long conflict.
If the so-called “reduction in violence” holds, it will be a major steptowards withdrawing US troops after more than 18 years — and launchingAfghanistan into an uncertain future.
“Afghans are tired of war,” Bismillah Watandost, a senior member of thegrassroots People’s Peace Movement of Afghanistan, told AFP, calling oncitizens to march and “demand an end to this tragic war”.
Many Afghans on Facebook were hopeful. “It’s a golden opportunity forAfghanistan to bring peace,” one, Abu Mahmood, wrote.
Both US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Taliban issued statements onFriday saying they had agreed to sign an accord on February 29 in Doha,following the one-week partial truce.
“Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of theUS-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward,” Pompeo said, adding thattalks between the Taliban and the Afghan government would “start soonthereafter”.
Afghanistan’s National Security Council spokesman Javed Faisal and Talibansources said a “reduction in violence” between US, Taliban and Afghansecurity forces had been agreed.
The United States has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a yearto secure a deal in which it would pull out thousands of troops in returnfor Taliban security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with thegovernment in Kabul.
A reduction in violence would show the Taliban can control their forces anddemonstrate good faith ahead of any signing, which would see the Pentagonwithdraw about half of the 12,000-13,000 troops currently in Afghanistan.
“The Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to a meaningful reduction inviolence,” US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Twitter.
“Should the Taliban reject the path of peace, we remain prepared to defendourselves and our Afghan partners,” he added.
A partial truce could also give a much-needed respite to civilians, whohave long borne the brunt of the bloody war. The UN said last year thatmore than 100,000 people have been killed or wounded in Afghanistan in thelast decade.
However details of what exactly such a truce will look like have remainedscant.
In southern Kandahar province, seen as the Taliban heartland, one insurgenttold AFP he had received orders to stand down.
However another Taliban commander there said he had only been ordered torefrain from attacking major cities and highways.
Any truce comes fraught with danger, and analysts warn the attempt to stemAfghanistan’s bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at anytime.
Worse still, they say warring parties could exploit a lull to reconfiguretheir forces and secure a battlefield advantage.
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Since the US invasion in 2001 there has only been one other pause in thefighting — a surprise three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and Kabulmarking the religious festival of Eid in 2018.
Afghans responded jubilantly, with Taliban fighters and security forceshugging and posing for selfies in previously unimaginable scenes around thecountry.
Civilians also flocked to greet the insurgents as they entered urban areasthat they usually visit only to attack, including the capital Kabul, forice cream and more selfies.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Friday Afghan security forces wouldremain “on active defence status” during the week.
In a statement, the Taliban said warring parties would “create a suitablesecurity situation” ahead of a deal signing.
The Taliban’s political spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, separately tweeted thatthe agreement would see “all” foreign forces leave Afghanistan.
But for now at least, the United States wants to leave troops inAfghanistan on a counter-terrorism mission to fight jihadists such as Daesh.
Stand down
Taliban expert Rahimullah Yusufzai said the move signalled a change inthinking for both the Taliban and the United States after years of fighting.
“Both sides have shown their commitment to sign the peace deal, and it’s abig development,” he said.
The United States and the Taliban have been tantalisingly close to a dealbefore, only to see President Donald Trump nix it at the eleventh hour inSeptember.
The attempt to stem Afghanistan’s bloodshed is laced with complications,including the fear that competing forces could exploit a lull to secure abattlefield advantage.
Since the US-led invasion after the September 11, 2001 attacks, America hasspent more than $1 trillion in fighting and rebuilding in Afghanistan.
About 2,400 US soldiers have been killed, along with unknown tens ofthousands of Afghan troops, Taliban fighters and Afghan civilians. – APP /AFP
