US and Afghan Taliban to start partial truce

Addis Ababa, February 21, 2020 (FBC)- A seven-day “reduction in violence” between the US and the Afghan Taliban will begin on Saturday, officials say.

“This is an important step on a long road to peace,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday.

If successful, the two sides will then sign the first phase of a deal aimed at ending nearly two decades of conflict.

The agreement, scheduled to begin at midnight local time, comes after more than a year of talks between American and Afghan Taliban representatives.

The Afghan government, which is currently grappling with a dispute over the results of the country’s presidential elections, was not part of the negotiations.

Under the terms of the partial week-long truce, it is understood that no major offensive operations will be launched against the Taliban, Afghan or international forces.

The US has spent billions of dollars since 2001 fighting the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.

Source: BBC