US signs deal to end 18-year war costing more than $750 billion in Afghanistan
(Baonghean.vn) - Signing a peace agreement with the Taliban opens the way for the US to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan, which has cost more than 750 billion USD and killed tens of thousands of people.
On February 29, the US and the Taliban are expected to sign a peace agreement in the capital city of Doha, Qatar. US President Donald Trump announced that he had sent Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to witness the agreement. This agreement opens up the opportunity to end the longest war the US has ever fought.
The US and the Taliban have signed a peace deal after the Taliban largely met their demands for a week-long reduction in violence. Fourteen security personnel and four civilians were killed in clashes last week, a sharp drop from the previous week.
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| President Donald Trump announced that he had sent Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to witness the signing of the peace agreement with the Taliban. Photo: AP |
Under the deal, the Taliban pledged not to allow extremists to use Afghanistan as a springboard for attacks on the United States and its allies. In return, the United States pledged to reduce the number of American troops stationed in Afghanistan from 13,000 to 8,600.
The subsequent withdrawal will depend on the Taliban meeting US counterterrorism conditions, which will be closely monitored by the US. However, it is unclear whether US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will sign the agreement on behalf of the US or just witness the signing ceremony.
In a statement ahead of the signing ceremony, US President Donald Trump declared this an important milestone, opening the way for the US to end the long-running war in Afghanistan and bring its troops home. The war in Afghanistan has lasted for more than 18 years and cost the US more than $750 billion and killed tens of thousands of people.
“These commitments are an important step toward a lasting peace in Afghanistan, one that will be free of al-Qaida, ISIS, and any other terrorist group that can seek to do us harm.”
The agreement with the Taliban is a step toward fulfilling President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign pledge to reduce the US military presence abroad.
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| The Taliban have basically fulfilled their commitment to reduce violence within a week. Photo: AP |
However, Mr. Donald Trump also appeared quite cautious about the possible results in negotiations with the Taliban, so the negotiations and signing ceremony were not reported as ostentatiously as the US-North Korea negotiations.
The signing of the peace deal in Doha will pave the way for talks between the Taliban and political forces in Afghanistan, including the government of President Ashraf Ghani.
Analysts say this is the real challenge for the peace process in this South Asian country. So far, details about the content of negotiations between internal Afghan forces have not been revealed.
