U.S.-Taliban Deal Enters Next Phase

Although Khalilzad acknowledged the continued loss of Afghan lives in “large numbers” as a result of high level of recent violence, he noted that no American had been killed since the deal, indicating the Taliban have adhered to their commitments to U.S. forces.

The Taliban on Tuesday welcomed the implementation of the first phase of their peace agreement with the United States – signed in Doha on Feb. 29 – that included the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and evacuating bases. The insurgent group, however, accused the U.S. forces of breaching the Doha agreement by supporting Afghan forces to carry out offensive attacks.

The Afghan government, which wasn’t a direct party to the Doha agreement, remains dissatisfied with the implementation of the deal.

The Presidential Palace says the Taliban’s increase in violence in Afghanistan is a clear violation of their commitments under a United States’ February agreement with the insurgent group.

Sediq Sediqqi, a presidential spokesperson said on Tuesday (July 14) an escalation of the Taliban’s attacks have added to the Afghans and the global community’s mounting frustration with the peace process.

Earlier the Taliban said the group will not endorse the intra-Afghan talks unless the Afghan government releases its 5,000 prisoners under the provided list. The presidential spokesperson however once again stressed the peace deal calls for release of prisoners without specifically mentioning who should be released, and the Afghan government has taken notable steps toward the exchange process.

Political affairs experts believe that the first phase of the U.S.-Taliban peace pact has failed to meet the Afghan people’s main demand, which is to reduce violence.

The Afghans’ calls and expectations were ignored in the first phase of the Doha agreement, said Sayed Nasir Mosawi, a Kabul-based political analyst.

It has been nearly two years since the start of protracted peace talks, but the war-racked country has yet to see a reduction in violence.