'US ready to consider agreement with Taliban': US Defence Secretary Mark Esper

After a week-long reduction in violence across war-torn Afghanistan, United States is w rey to consider an agreement with Taliban. US Defence Secretary Mark Esper reportedly said that if Taliban demonstrate willingness and capability to do so, n US is also prepared to consider an agreement that vances peace process. much-awaited peace deal will mark a historic step in more than 19 years of conflict in Afghanistan and it would also pave way for a deal that could see end of war. 

Esper furr ded, “Should, intra-Afghan peace dialogues progress, US will reduce our force posture as appropriate, based on conditions on ground”. He furr ded, “As we have previously tified members of Congress, our negotiations with Taliban have vanced, and y have agreed to dramatically reduce violence across country." 

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Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo even said that US-Taliban deal will be signed on February 29. According to Pompeo, peace deal will be built on fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and future political romap for Afghanistan. Furrmore, he said that progress me so far h provided hope and also represented a real opportunity. 

As reports suggest, after deal signing, US troops are furr expected to pull out of South East Asian country within 18 months, that is till August 2021. 

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Taliban longer seek mopoly of power

However, even after US claimed that its peace accord with Taliban is almost complete, re has t been any decrease in intensity of insurgency operations. According to international reports, Taliban fighters attacked Afghan government forces overnight and militant commanders on February 17 said that such operations would continue until y receive new orders from ir leership based on deal signed with US to reduce violence in region.

Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan with a harsh version of Islamic law from 1996 to 2001 and hosted al-Qaida leer Osama bin Len, reportedly said that y longer seek a mopoly on power, however, militant group still controls or holds sway over roughly half of country. re are also fears that a full withdrawal of some 20,000 NATO troops, including about 12,000 US forces, would leave Afghan government vulnerable, or unleash ar round of fighting in a war that has reportedly killed tens of thousands of Afghans and also claimed lives of 2,400 US servicemen and women.

(With PTI inputs)

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