Taliban and US 'close' to the Afghan peace deal, insurgents claim

US and Taliban are "close" to reaching an agreement for a peace deal that would see Pentagon slash its troop numbers in Afghanistan, a spokesman for insurgents said Wednesday.

two foes have been meeting in Doha in recent days in a bid to put final touches on a historic deal that would see Taliban make various security guarantees in return for a sharp reduction in 13,000 or so American troops based in Afghanistan.

"We are close to an agreement. We hope to bring good news for our Muslim and freedom seeking nation soon," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted.

US embassy in Kabul did t immediately comment. But Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, said US special envoy Zalmay Khalilz would come to Kabul in "one or two" days to brief Afghan leer about deal.

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A senior Taliban commander in Pakistan told AFP that a meeting of insurgent leers was underway at an undisclosed location along Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where senior figures were reviewing proposed agreement.

"All Shura (consultation) members have received draft and y are reing it carefully, yet go-ahe signal has been given to Taliban negotiating team in Doha," Taliban official said.

"It may take a day or two, as Taliban leership has to take all commanders into confidence".

apparent final phase of talks heaves into view end of an excruciating few months for Afghans who have watched on nervously and largely voiceless as America cuts a deal with Taliban while largely sidelining Ghani's government.

After 18 years of war, US wants to end its military involvement in Afghanistan and has been talking to insurgents since at least 2018.

Most of work was led by Afghan-born Khalilz, a fluent Pashto and Dari speaker who has spent recent months shuttling between world capitals in a bid to build support for a deal with Islamist hardliners kwn for ir extreme interpretations of Sharia law.

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On Tuesday in Doha, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told reporters a deal could be expected "as soon as remaining points are finalised", as negotiators wrangled over individual words and phrases in draft.

agreement will centre on US withdrawing troops in exchange for a Taliban guarantee that Afghanistan will t be used as a jihist safe haven, talks with Afghan government and an eventual ceasefire.

In Afghan capital on Wednesday, Amnesty International called on US and Taliban to also consider human rights in any deal.

"Any peace agreement must t igre (Afghans') voices, voices of victims, y must t igre ir calls for justice and accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and or serious human rights violations," Omar Waraich, Amnesty's deputy South Asia director, told reporters.

While Taliban are torious for numerous human rights abuses, violations have also been perpetrated by pro-government forces