WASHINGTON: The United States and the Taliban said Saturday they had madesubstantial headway in negotiations to end the 17-year US war inAfghanistan, although sticking points remained.
Zalmay Khalilzad, who was named by President Donald Trump´s administrationto find a way out of the war, held an unusually long six days of talks withTaliban representatives in Qatar.
“Meetings here were more productive than they have been in the past. Wemade significant progress on vital issues,” Khalilzad wrote on Twitter.
Khalilzad — who headed to Qatar after talks in Afghanistan and its keyneighbours — said he was returning to Kabul to discuss the negotiations.
“We will build on the momentum and resume talks shortly. We have a numberof issues left to work out,” he tweeted.
“Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, and ´everything´ mustinclude an intra-Afghan dialogue and comprehensive ceasefire.”
While he has not given details, floated proposals include a withdrawal bythe United States of its troops in return for Taliban guarantees not toshelter foreign extremists — the initial reason for the US intervention.
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo later tweeted he had heard “encouragingnews” from Khalilzad.
“The U.S. is serious about pursuing peace, preventing #Afghanistan fromcontinuing to be a space for international terrorism & bringing forceshome,” he added.
“Working with the Afghan gov´t & all interested parties, the U.S. seeks tostrengthen Afghan sovereignty, independence & prosperity.”
Trump has been eager to end America´s longest war, which was launchedshortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Trump has already said he will pull half of the 14,000 US troops fromAfghanistan. – APP/AFP
