US to sign Taliban peace deal, US troops to withdraw in 14 months

A historic peace treaty was signed between the United States and the Taliban to end the two decades of long war.

Abdul Gani Baradar, the Afghan Taliban met by the Taliban and Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representative for the United States, during the ceremony in Doha, Qatar's capital.

Under the Doha agreement, US forces withdraw from Afghanistan over the next 14 months, in response to a guarantee that the Taliban will not allow Afghan territory to be used by terrorist organizations, including al-Qaeda.

According to a joint statement issued by the United States and the Afghan government, US forces will withdraw from Afghanistan in 14 months, and the plan will be subject to a peaceful agreement by the Taliban.

Representatives from 50 countries including Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi attended the ceremony at the local Doha hotel.
Addressing the event, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States and the Taliban have been tackling decades of conflict.

The US Secretary of State said he was grateful to Qatar for hosting the historic talks.

Mike Pompeo further said that the peace deal between the Taliban and the United States would bring peace to Afghanistan, and if the Taliban followed the peace agreement, the reaction of the international community would be positive.

Taliban leader meets Zalmay Khalilzad

Earlier, Mullah Shahabuddin Dilawar, a member of the Taliban Taliban Qatar office, met with US Special Representative for Afghan Peace Zalmay Khalilzad at a local hotel in Doha.

Zalmay Khalilzad refrained from answering questions, while Mullah Shahab said today was a historic day, after signing the agreement, all foreign troops would leave Afghanistan.

The Taliban leader added that the withdrawal of foreign troops would bring peace to the country and the Afghan people are very happy with the deal.

The agreement will be a ray of hope and light for the Afghan people: Shah Mehmood Qureshi
Pakistan has a clear stance that Afghan peace is to be ensured by Afghans under Afghan leadership and that Afghan peace is in the national interest of Pakistan.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi says the Doha agreement will end the United States' longest war on the planet and will be a ray of hope and light for the Afghan people.