ISLAMABAD – Afghan Taliban spokesman reveals breakthrough in negotiationswith US over troops withdrawal and ceasefire, Afghan Media has reported.

A spokesman for Taliban’s political office in Doha, Suhail Shahin, said ina tweet that the two sides might reach an agreement on a timeline forforeign forces withdrawal and intra-Afghan negotiations, TOLO News hasreported.

Critics familiar with Doha talks said that the US and Taliban negotiatorshave agreed on US forces reduction in Afghanistan to 8,000.

“There is the possibility of a ceasefire between the US and the Taliban andthen there is a possibility of a ceasefire between the Afghan governmentand the Taliban after they sit in an intra-Afghan negotiation. There is thepossibility of a reduction in the conflicts between the two sides,” saidSayed Akbar Agha, a former Taliban commander.

Addressing a ceremony in Kabul on Sunday, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullahsaid efforts are underway to begin intra-Afghan negotiations.

“Afghans see peace as their priority, but that peace should besustainable,” said Abdullah.

Officials said that the list of the 15-member negotiating team has beenfinalized and it will be made public in the near future.