WASHINGTON – The US Special Representative for Afghanistan’sReconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, who has arrived in Doha for anotherround of talks with the Taliban, said on Saturday that the United States isready for “a good agreement” with the Taliban.
Khalilzad said in a tweet that the “Taliban are signaling they would liketo conclude an agreement” but he reiterated that the US is pursuing a peaceagreement, not a withdrawal agreement. A peace agreement that enableswithdrawal, he added.
linkU.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad✔@US4AfghanPeacelinklink
Just got to #Doha link to resumetalks with the Taliban. We are pursuing a #peacelink agreement not a withdrawalagreement; a peace agreement that enables withdrawal. Our presence in #Afghanistan link isconditions-based, and any withdrawal will be conditions-based.985 link11:08 PM – Aug 2, 2019linkTwitter Ads info and privacy link
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The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a tweet said that thetalks with the US in Doha will begin on Saturday morning.
This comes as according to reports, the Trump administration is planning towithdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan in a new deal negotiated withthe Taliban Thursday.
The Washington Post reported that the number of US troops inAfghanistan would be reduced to between 8,000 and 9,000 from the current14,000, citing US officials.
The reports said that in exchange, the Taliban would reportedly haveto begin negotiating a peace deal with the Afghan government; thedeal would also involve a cease-fire and a Taliban renunciation of al Qaeda.