US, Taliban Scramble To Rewrite Draft On Troop Withdrawal

[ThunderBlade + 231]

Taliban and U.S. negotiators are scrambling to rewrite a draft agreement that will outline the withdrawal of American and NATO troops from Afghanistan and a verifiable Taliban guarantee to fight terrorism ahead of an all-Afghan peace conference Sunday. Officials familiar with the talks, but not authorized to speak about them, say negotiations went late into the night on Wednesday and were to resume again on Thursday — the sixth day of direct talks between the insurgents and U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, told The Associated Press on Thursday that “the talks are continuing and they will continue tomorrow as well. We have made some progress.” Previously he said that a draft agreement was being rewritten to include agreed-upon clauses. On Thursday he said the two sides had broadened their discussion, without elaborating. Until now two sides had been divided on the withdrawal timetable, with the United States seeking more time. Taliban officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, earlier said the U.S. was seeking up to 18 months to complete a troop withdrawal even as U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News earlier this week that a withdrawal had already quietly begun and that troop strength had been cut to 9,000. The president’s statement has since been contradicted by a senior U.S. official, who said the force strength is unchanged at about 14,000. Still, Trump’s statements reinforced the president’s often stated desire to leave Afghanistan and end America’s 18-year war — the longest in his country’s history.

[Pavel + 384]

So wait, they are leaving the taliban in charge? The same one they wanted to get rid of? That was a worthwhile 17 years and trillions of dollars, wasn't it?

[pinto + 293]

Every nation deserve the peace! "The U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass has said that Afghans must be prepared to make compromises in coming months."

https://www.khaama.com/afghans-must-be-prepared-to-make-compromises-in-coming-months-u-s-ambassador-03820/

 

[50 shades of black + 254]

Meanwhile: "U.S. airstrikes kill 28 Taliban militants in Wardak and Ghazni provinces."

[francoba + 93]

Afghan with Talibans is Afghan with no future:  the cradle of terrorism

[James Regan + 1,776]

13 minutes ago, francoba said:

Afghan with Talibans is Afghan with no future:  the cradle of terrorism

Put the Mujahideen back in power, they hate the Taliban and have some morals, plus they kicked out Russia and bought weapons from the CIA. Could be good ambassadors for Bolton and Co.

[NickW + 2,714]

9 hours ago, Pavel said:

So wait, they are leaving the taliban in charge? The same one they wanted to get rid of? That was a worthwhile 17 years and trillions of dollars, wasn't it?

I don't think they really had an issue with the Taliban, it was Bin Laden they were after but the Taliban sheltered him because they felt a debt of honour because of his services in fighting the soviets. 

Similar issue on a national level with Syria and Iran. Part of Irans support of Syria is a debt of honour because Syria was one of the few countries that supported Iran in the Iran - Iraq war. 

[Jan van Eck + 7,558]

Once the Taliban re-take political and military control, you are going to see the most brutal and most savage oppression and maltreatment of women you could possibly imagine in your worst nightmares.  Remember this about the Taliban:  with American protection, Afghan women have been able to go to school and be unshielded by the Burka for the first time since forever.  Those Taliban guys meanwhile have been in enforced celibacy.  What do you think is going to happen when you unleash tens of thousands of sexually celibate males with guns and no checks, loose on Afghanistan's women?  Well?