USA, Taliban agree broadly on Afghan peace deal framework

Washington DC: In a possible breakthrough, the USA and Taliban have agreed in principle to the framework of a peace deal that moves both parties toward ending the 17-year war in Afghanistan, a media report said Monday. The draft outlines a commitment from the Taliban that Afghan soil will not be used by terrorists, and the USA begin a troops withdrawal in return for a ceasefire and talks, the New York Times reported, quoting Special US Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad.

"We have a draft of the framework that has to be fleshed out before it becomes an agreement," Khalilzad was quoted as saying by the paper. "The Taliban have committed, to our satisfaction, to do what is necessary that would prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a platform for international terrorist groups or individuals."

Afghanistan-born Khalilzad added: "We felt enough confidence that we said we need to get this fleshed out, and details need to be worked out." Since being appointed in September last, Khalilzad has met with all sides in an attempt to end America's longest war in which the US has lost over 2,400 soldiers in more than 17 years.

The Taliban control nearly half of Afghanistan, and are more powerful than at any time since the 2001 US-led invasion after the 9/11 terror attacks. In a series of tweets after six days of talks with the Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar last week, Khalilzad said the US has made "significant progress" in its peace talks with the Taliban.

"After six days in Doha, I'm headed to Afghanistan for consultations. Meetings here were more productive than they have been in the past. We made significant progress on vital issues," he said Saturday. However, he cautioned that nothing has been finalised yet.

Quoting a senior US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the paper said that the Taliban delegation had asked for time to confer with their leadership about the American insistence that the insurgents talk with the Afghan government and agree to a cease-fire as part of any finalised deal.

The official said they had made it clear to the Taliban that all the issues discussed were "interconnected" as part of a "package deal" that he likened to a Russian nesting doll, the NYT reported. Although other Taliban sources said that more concrete details of an American troop withdrawal had already been agreed upon, American officials said Monday that those details had not yet been hashed out, the paper added.

Khalilzad returned to Afghanistan on Sunday to brief the Afghan government after his talks with the Taliban delegation in Doha. After being briefed by Khalilzad, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani expressed concern that a peace deal would be rushed. He highlighted previous settlements that ended in bloodshed, the paper said.