US, Taliban sign historic Afghanistan deal
The US has signed a historic deal with Taliban insurgents that could pave the way toward a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan over the next 14 months.
While the agreement is aimed at allowing the US to gradually pull out of its longest war, many expect that talks to come between the multiple Afghan sides will be far more complicated.
The deal was signed in the Qatari capital Doha on Saturday by US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on hand to witness the ceremony.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper meanwhile travelled to Kabul on a visit that officials and experts said was aimed at reassuring the Afghan government about the United States' commitment to the country.
For US President Donald Trump, the deal represents a chance to make good on his promise to bring US troops home.
But security experts have also called it a foreign policy gamble that would give the Taliban international legitimacy.
"Today is a monumental day for Afghanistan," the US embassy in Kabul said on Twitter.
"It is about making peace and crafting a common brighter future. We stand with Afghanistan."
Hours before the deal, the Taliban ordered all its fighters in Afghanistan "to refrain from any kind of attack ... for the happiness of the nation".
"The biggest thing is that we hope the US remain committed to their promises during the negotiation and peace deal," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said.
Mujahid said it was "irritating and provocative" that foreign military aircraft continued to fly over Taliban territory, but militia fighters were following the order to stand down.
For millions of Afghans, the deal represents some hope for an end to years of bloodshed.
"Peace is extremely simple and my country deserves it. Today is the day when maybe we will see a positive change," said 38-year-old Kabul teacher Javed Hassan, who lost his children in a Taliban bomb blast in 2018.
But prospects for peace remain uncertain given the next step is reaching agreement with the Afghan government, and the accord comes amid a fragile political situation in Afghanistan.
The war, which has killed tens of thousands of people, began when the US launched offensives on Afghanistan just weeks after the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington by the Afghanistan-based al-Qaeda militant group.
Trump said in a statement on Friday the deal will pave way for US troop numbers to drop to 8600 from about 13,000 in the coming weeks.
Further reductions of Western forces will hinge on the Taliban adhering to a "reduction in violence" pledge, a condition that will be assessed by the US.
Under the deal, the Taliban wants 5000 fighters to be released from Afghan-run jails, but it is not clear whether the Afghan government will agree.
Australian Associated Press