USA and the Taliban finally declared peace as they signed the historic “Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan”
The United States (U.S.) and Taliban have signed the historic “Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan” today, i.e., Saturday, February 29, 2020, in the capital city of Qatar, Doha.
The deal was signed by U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation – Zalmay Khalilzad and Co-Founder of Taliban movement – Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. The signing was done in presence of U.S. Secretary of State – Mike Pompeo.
As per the agreement, the US. will reduce its troops from 12,000 to 8,600 in Afghanistan within the first 135 days of the deal. As of now, 14,000 U.S. troops and approximately 17,000 troops from 39 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies and partner countries are stationed in Afghanistan.
The deal also provides for a prisoner swap programme where 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 Afghan security force prisoners would be exchanged by March 10, 2020. Besides, the U.S. will also lift sanctions against the Taliban and work with the United Nations (U.N.) to lift its separate sanctions against the group.
The 4-page agreement states that the Taliban will take steps to prevent any group or individual, including Al-Qaeda, from using the territory of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the U.S. and its allies.
Speaking on the occasion, Pompeo said, “This is a hopeful moment, but it’s only the beginning. There’s a great deal of hard work ahead on the diplomatic front.”
Pompeo further added, “U.S. will closely watch the Taliban’s compliance with their commitments and calibrate the pace of our withdrawal to their actions. This is how we will ensure that Afghanistan never again serves as a base for international terrorists.”
Talking about a peaceful future, Baradar said, “I hope that with the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan the Afghan nation under an Islamic regime will take its relief and embark on a new prosperous life.”
The official twitter handle of U.S. Department of Defence tweeted, “Thanks to @POTUS Trump’s leadership, we are finally making substantial progress toward ending our nation’s longest war. Today’s release of the Joint Declaration between Afghanistan and the U.S. marks a pivotal moment in the #AfghanPeaceProcess. #ForAfghanistan #WeAreNATO”
Thanks to @POTUS Trump’s leadership, we are finally making substantial progress toward ending our nation’s longest war. Today’s release of the Joint Declaration between Afghanistan and the U.S. marks a pivotal moment in the #AfghanPeaceProcess. #ForAfghanistan #WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/pWjgiUv6mj
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) February 29, 2020
Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of Defence – Mark Esper was in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, alongside the President of Afghanistan – Ashraf Ghani, whose Government did not took part in these talks.
Mark Esper said, “This is a hopeful moment, but it is only the beginning. The road ahead will not be easy. Achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan will require patience and compromise among all parties.”
The signing of the deal comes a week after “Reduction In Violence (RIV)” agreement was announced by the U.S. and the Taliban armed group in Afghanistan. During the RIV week, 19 security forces and 4 civilians were killed in different attacks. This is seen as a decrease in the number of casualties, as compared to past weeks, majorly due to the possibility of a peace deal.
The two sides had reached an agreement in principle in September 2019. Later, the President of U.S. – Donald Trump cancelled a secret meeting which was scheduled to be held with the leaders of Taliban and also called off the entire peace talks with the militant group. He was also supposed to meet the President of Afghanistan – Ashraf Ghani along with the Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar at his Camp David retreat.
Trump then planned a surprised visit to Afghanistan in November 2019 and announced that talks have restarted. This came shortly after the Taliban released an American and Australian professor in exchange for the release of three Taliban prisoners, held by the Afghan Government.
The trouble started when U.S. invaded Afghanistan in search for the then Al Qaeda Chief – Osama Bin Laden, who had masterminded the 9/11 terror attacks in the U.S. The then President of U.S. – George W. Bush had demanded that Taliban should hand over Osama Bin Laden and expel al-Qaeda. The Taliban refused to extradite Laden unless U.S. provided them with sufficient evidence proving Laden’s involvement in 9/11 attacks.
This request of Taliban was put down by the U.S. and it launched Operation “Enduring Freedom” on October 7, 2001 with the United Kingdom. The U.S. and its allies rapidly drove the Taliban from power by December 17, 2001 and established military bases near major cities across the country. Since then, U.S. troops have been stationed in Afghanistan to curb any further rising of any terrorist activity.
Besides, the U.S. has also invited India and 30 other countries to witness the signing of the historic deal. The NATO members and members of Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) have also been invited to attend the event.
