KABUL (SW) – The U.S. is inching closer to a deal with the Taliban on ‘tangible and lasting reduction in violence’ in Afghanistan, a source privy of the development has said.
This comes on the heels of recent trip to Kabul by Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation. A well-placed source at the U.S. Embassy has said this ‘reduction in violence’ conversation is in part because the Taliban are not willing to agree to ceasefire.
“A reduction in violence for us it to get to that ultimately… the Taliban brought forward to Doha a proposal that fell short in a number of areas that we believed was necessary, over the course of last few weeks there has been back and forth with them to try to reach an agreement that would be acceptable to all sides. The U.S. priority has been reduction in violence that would be significant, somethings Afghans would feel, tangibly that would create the bases for inter-Afghan negotiations that could lead to a permeant and comprehensive ceasefire that could be agreed upon in those inter-Afghan negotiations, ideally early on”, the source said.
Separately, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday demanded “demonstrable evidence” from the Taliban that they can and will reduce violence before signing a deal that would lead to Afghanistan peace talks and a withdrawal of American troops from the country.
Speaking at a news conference in neighbouring Uzbekistan, Pompeo said a deal is close but that they have been close before and failed because the Taliban were unable to demonstrate seriousness. He said more work remains to be done so that peace talks can get started.
“We’re working on a peace and reconciliation plan, putting the commas in the right place, getting the sentences right,” he said. “We got close once before to having an agreement: a piece of paper that we mutually executed and the Taliban were unable to demonstrate either their will or capacity or both to deliver on a reduction in violence.”
“So, what we are demanding now is demonstrable evidence of their will and capacity to reduce violence, to take down the threat, so the inter-Afghan talks … will have a less violent context,” he said. “We’re hopeful we can achieve that but we’re not there yet, and work certainly remains.”
According to the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, in all his meetings in Kabul, Ambassador Khalilzad emphasized Afghans should continue to focus on bringing together an inclusive Islamic Republic negotiating team and preparing for Intra-Afghan Negotiations.
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