US, Taliban Strike Deal To Withdraw American Troops From Afghanistan; Trump Says ‘Will Meet Them Soon’

The US and its Nato allies will withdraw all their troops from Afghanistan in 14 months if the Taliban uphold their commitments under the deal.

(L to R) US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar shake hands after signing a peace agreement during a ceremony in the Qatari capital Doha on February 29, 2020 - The United States signed a landmark deal with the Taliban, laying out a timetable for a full troop withdrawal from Afghanistan within 14 months as it seeks an exit from its longest-ever war. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)

Washington: The United States and the Taliban on Saturday signed the historic peace deal in Qatari capital Doha as part of US’ efforts to bring lasting peace in war-torn Afghanistan. American President Donald Trump on Saturday, hailed the signing of the landmark deal and said that Washington hopes will mark the beginning of the end of its longest war. He also said he would meet Taliban leaders "in the not so distant future." The US President  said he believed the Taliban were ready for peace but warned that should the deal fail to take hold, "we'll go back." The US and its Nato allies will withdraw all their troops from Afghanistan in 14 months if the Taliban uphold their commitments under the deal. Pace of troop withdrawal conditions-based: The pace of American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan is conditions-based and will depend on how well the Taliban comply with the commitments they have made, the White House said on Saturday after the US and the militant group signed a landmark peace deal in Doha. An agreement has been reached with the Taliban that secures important commitments that are necessary to finally end the conflict in Afghanistan. While work remains, this progress provides a historic opportunity for peace, the White House said in a statement. "The pace of removal for American troops stationed in Afghanistan is conditions-based and will depend on how well the Taliban comply with the commitments they have made," it said. "Through our negotiations, America has secured strong commitments from the Taliban to permanently sever their ties to international terrorists. As the agreement is implemented, we will be watching closely and making determinations about compliance based on our own judgment and the safety of our personnel," the White House said. The US will begin reducing the number of troops, while sustaining a counterterrorism force to continue dismantling terrorist groups that seek to attack America, the White House said. US to withdraw all troops within 14 months: As per the released text of the agreement, the US is committed to withdraw from Afghanistan all its military forces, its allies, and coalition partners, including all non-diplomatic civilian personnel, private security contractors, trainers, advisors, and supporting services personnel within 14 months following announcement of the deal. As part of this, the US committed that it and its coalition partners within 135 days of the agreement will reduce the number of US forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 and proportionally bring reduction in the number of its allies and coalition forces. The United States, its allies, and the coalition will withdraw all their forces from five military bases, it said. US, Taliban to release prisoners: The US also agreed to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners, whereas the latter will release 1,000 prisoners by March 10, 2020, the first day of intra-Afghan negotiations. The rest of the prisoners will be released over the next three months. In its statement, the White House said that President Donald Trump was fulfilling his promise to bring "our troops home from endless wars overseas by working toward peace in Afghanistan". In the meantime, the US will continue working with allies and partners to monitor the situation and preserve the gains of the last 19 years, the White House said. The 18-year-long Afghan war has killed tens of thousands of civilians and Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Some 2.5 million Afghans are registered as refugees abroad and another two million are displaced within their country. The war has cost the US taxpayer more than USD 1 trillion in military and rebuilding costs since the US-led invasion of 2001. More than 100,000 Afghan civilians have been killed or injured over the past decade, according to the United Nations. (additional inputs from PTI)