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US and Taliban Reach Historic Peace Agreement After Decades of War
After nearly two decades of conflict, the United States and Taliban signed a historic peace agreement on February 29, 2020, in Doha, Qatar. The accord aims to end the longest war in American history, which began in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks and led to the ousting of the Taliban regime that sheltered al-Qaida leaders. The deal also represents a significant shift in the US foreign policy towards Afghanistan, which has cost over 2,400 American and tens of thousands Afghan lives, as well as trillions of dollars.
According to the Joint Declaration by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States of America for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan, the main provisions of the agreement include:
– A phased withdrawal of all American and coalition forces from Afghanistan within 14 months, subject to Taliban`s compliance with security guarantees and counterterrorism commitments. The initial reduction of troops from about 13,000 to 8,600 is expected to happen within 135 days from the signing.
– A commitment by the Taliban to prevent any group or individual, including al-Qaida, from using Afghan soil to threaten the US or its allies, and to engage in intra-Afghan negotiations towards a permanent ceasefire and a political settlement of the conflict. The Taliban have also agreed to release up to 5,000 Afghan prisoners held by them, while the Afghan government would free up to 1,000 Taliban prisoners, as a confidence-building measure before the talks.
– A pledge by the US to lift sanctions and unfreeze assets of the Taliban leaders, and to work with the UN Security Council to remove Taliban members from its sanctions list, within 3 months, subject to Taliban fulfilling its obligations. The US has also agreed to facilitate intra-Afghan talks, including the eventual release of all prisoners, and to support economic development and reconstruction in Afghanistan.
The peace deal has been praised by some as a way to end the violence and instability that have plagued Afghanistan for decades, while others have criticized it as a premature surrender to the Taliban that lacks sufficient safeguards for human rights and women`s rights. The Afghan government, which was not party to the negotiations, has expressed reservations about some aspects of the agreement, including the release of Taliban prisoners and the ceasefire conditions. The Taliban, for their part, have claimed victory over the US and announced a “reduction of violence” period before the talks, which has seen a significant decrease in fighting but also some attacks by both sides.
The road ahead for Afghanistan remains uncertain, as the peace process faces multiple challenges and risks. The Taliban still control or influence much of the country, and some factions may reject the talks or resume fighting. The intra-Afghan negotiations, which are supposed to start on March 10, will be complex and contentious, as various ethnic, religious, and political groups seek to shape the future of their country. The US and its allies will have to balance their desire to leave Afghanistan with their concerns about regional stability, terrorism, and human rights, while the Taliban will have to prove their commitment to a peaceful and inclusive Afghanistan that respects the diversity and rights of all Afghans.
As the world watches the unfolding of this historic peace agreement, it is clear that the road to peace is long and rocky, but also necessary and hopeful. The people of Afghanistan, who have suffered so much from the war and the insecurity, deserve a chance to live in peace and dignity, and to shape their own future. The US and the Taliban, who have fought each other for so long, now have a chance to show that diplomacy can work and that enemies can become partners in peace. The world, which has seen so much conflict and division, now has a chance to support a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan that contributes to regional and global security. The peace agreement between the US and Taliban may be just a beginning, but it is a beginning that can lead to a better end.
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