If the decline in violence continues, the United States and the Taliban are expected to sign an agreement on February 29, which would be a historic step forward for peace talks in Afghanistan after 18 years of war.
The United States had demanded as a prerequisite for any agreement a drop in Taliban attacks in the country. "Once (the decrease in violence) is successfully implemented, the signing of the agreement between the United States and the Taliban should go forward," said Mike Pompeo. "We are preparing for the signing to take place on February 29". This agreement concerns a withdrawal of American troops in exchange for security guarantees from the Taliban.
Agreement that would pave the way for "lasting peace"
"After long negotiations, (the two parties) agreed to sign the finalized agreement in the presence of international observers (...) on February 29," the Taliban confirmed in a statement. Both the United States and the insurgents will now "create an adequate security situation" before this date, they continued. Moscow immediately hailed "an important event" for peace, NATO for its part welcoming an agreement that paves the way for "lasting peace". Javed Faisal, director of the National Security Council of Afghanistan, a government agency, previously announced that "reduction of violence" between the Taliban and pro-government and US forces would start on February 22 for "a week."
"We hope that this reduction in violence will lead to a cease-fire, and to lasting peace in Afghanistan," he said. Several Taliban sources have confirmed this information, which if verified on the ground, could allow the gradual withdrawal of the 12 to 13,000 American soldiers based in Afghanistan and the end for the United States of its longest war. The Taliban were ousted from power in Afghanistan by an international coalition led by the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks on American soil. The insurgents, who have ruled in Kabul since 1996, then led a relentless guerrilla war, which killed more than 2,400 American soldiers and tens of thousands of members of the Afghan security forces.
Fighting could continue "in rural districts"
Washington has spent more than $ 1 trillion on the war, which has also left over 10,000 civilians dead since 2009, according to the UN. "We have received orders from our leaders asking us to be ready for the reduction in violence which will start on Saturday," said a Taliban from the Maiwand district of southern Kandahar province. Another Taliban commander based in Kandahar, Hafiz Saeed Hedayat, however, said that the reduction in fighting would only apply "to cities and main roads". "This means that perhaps the violence will continue in rural districts".
Once this agreement is signed, inter-Afghan talks must open, while the Taliban have refused for 18 years to negotiate with the government of Kabul, which they consider a "puppet" of Washington. Taliban sources in Pakistan say the talks are scheduled to start "March 10". Insurgent number 2 Sirajuddin Haqqani said on Thursday that the rebels "fully committed to working with the other parties" in "sincere respect in order to agree on a new inclusive political system". "We are about to sign an agreement with the United States and we are fully committed to implementing all of its provisions, in letter and spirit," he wrote in a column for the American daily New York Times .
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