A reduction in fighting in Afghanistan to last a week, scheduled between Taliban, Americans and Afghan security forces, will start on Saturday, we learned, Friday, February 21, from several of the parties, after weeks of negotiations.

This agreement was concluded within the framework of negotiations between American officials and representatives of the Taliban launched in 2018 in Qatar, which could ultimately lead to a withdrawal of the American troops deployed in Afghanistan.

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"On the basis of this agreement, the reduction of violence will begin between the Taliban and the Afghan and international security forces for a week," a spokesman for the Afghan national security adviser told Reuters. "We hope that this period will extend and pave the way for a ceasefire and an inter-Afghan dialogue."

The spokesman said the Afghan forces would continue their operations against the jihadist Islamic State Organization (OEI) group during this period and would respond to the Taliban's smallest violation of the agreement.

"The goal is to create a secure environment in Afghanistan"

Three Taliban officials speaking on condition of anonymity - two in Doha and one in Afghanistan - confirmed the agreement and its terms.

One of the Taliban officials present in Doha told Reuters that the period could not be called a "cease-fire". "Each of the parties has the right to self-defense but there will be no attack on our respective positions during these seven days," he said. "The goal is to create a secure environment in Afghanistan that can be extended if things go well after the signing of a peace agreement with the United States."

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Talking officials said last week that an agreement with the Taliban would be followed by negotiations on an inter-Afghan political settlement between the Taliban and Afghan delegations, which includes government officials.

So far, the Taliban have refused any direct discussion with the Afghan government, which they describe as a puppet of the United States.

No US official was immediately available for comment. The United States demands that the Islamist insurgents observe a period of calm before concluding a peace agreement with them, which could lead to the withdrawal of the American troops deployed in Afghanistan.

With AFP and Reuters

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