The United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad says US is seeking a “comprehensive peace agreement, not a withdrawal agreement”.
“As we prepare for the next round of talks with the Taliban, important to remember we seek a comprehensive peace agreement, NOT a withdrawal agreement.” He said in a tweet, apparently feeding back Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen’s remark on June 18, who said US “accepted” to withdraw its forces still in Afghanistan.
Getting along with the remarks, Khalilzad described four elements as driving factors to a comprehensive peace agreement.
“A comprehensive peace agreement is made up of four inter-connected parts: counter-terrorism assurances, troop withdrawal, intra-Afghan negotiations that lead to a political settlement; and a comprehensive & permanent ceasefire,” he said in a tweet Tuesday.
“This is a framework which the Taliban accept,” he added.
(2/3) A comprehensive peace agreement is made up of four inter-connected parts: counter-terrorism assurances, troop withdrawal, intra-Afghan negotiations that lead to a political settlement; and a comprehensive & permanent ceasefire. This is a framework which the Taliban accept.
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) June 18, 2019
It comes after Shaheen tweeted Tuesday saying in peace talks, the United States has accepted it will withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan, and in the future there will be no intervention, which is a progress in the negotiations.
But Khalilzad reiterated that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.
Next round of talks on peace in Afghanistan is due to be hold in nearing future with Taliban representatives in Qatar.
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