(The Killid Group) – As ninth round of talks between the United States and the Taliban negotiators entered third day Saturday, sources familiar to the talks confirmed both parties have made progress on a full withdrawal of foreign troops within 15-24 months.
Progress includes the Taliban assurance of not using Afghanistan as their springboard for attacks against any other nations – with a deadline of 24 months the most for US to pull back its forces.
Both sides will sign the peace deal in upcoming few days, which will be followed by intra-Afghan negotiations, according to the sources. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy leader to the Taliban, will ink the agreement with Unites States.
As part of a peace deal, the number of US forces will reduce to 5,000 from the current 14,000, sources said, as Tolonews reported. The troops will be withdrawn from five American bases, which according to President Ghani, they are “small bases” and the reduction will not impact the situation of Afghanistan.
· Khalilzad Resumes Trips to Afghanistan, Qatar on Peace Deal
United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad resumed his trip to Qatar and Afghanistan last week, in a bid to set a deal with the Taliban for a comprehensive ceasefire in Afghanistan.
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