KABUL: Breakthrough development has been reported in the Afghanistanendgame.
Afghan Taliban negotiators and the United States officials meeting in Qatarfinalised clauses to be included in a draft agreement to end the17-year-old Afghan war.
According to details provided by Taliban sources, the draft includesapparent concessions from both sides, with foreign forces to be withdrawnfrom the country in 18 months from the future signing of the deal. It isunclear whether a joint statement will be issued, or whether the provisionshave been fully accepted by the US side.
According to sources, Taliban offered assurances that Afghanistan will notbe allowed to be used by al Qaeda and Islamic State militants to attack theUnited States and its allies – a key early demand of Washington.
In return for a ceasefire offer, they also demanded the assurance from bythe US that there will be no threat to regional countries, especiallyPakistan.
Read Top Stories
Though the militant outfit agreed to ceasefire clause, it asked the alliesto provide a timeline for the withdrawal of US forces fromAfghanistan. They, however, hinted at holding talks with the Afghangovernment in a post-ceasefire scenario, *reported Tolo News *quotingsources.
Other clauses include a deal over the exchange and release of prisonersfrom the warring sides, the removal of an international travel ban onseveral Taliban leaders by the United States and the prospect of an interimAfghan government after the ceasefire is struck, the Taliban sources said.
During the talks, US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad reportedly said thetalks should be aimed at reforms and not for a demand by the Taliban tocontrol Afghanistan. Now he will be heading to Afghan capital Kabul tobrief President Ashraf Ghani after the end of the six-day talks, thesources and a diplomat said.
