US to completely withdraw from Afghanistan in 14 months: Historic US-Taliban peace deal signed in Qatar

• US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo witnessed the signing.
• This deal will pave way for US troop numbers to drop to 8,600 from about 13,000 in the weeks following the deal.

In a historic move, the US and Taliban signed on Saturday a peace deal which has spurred hopes of ending the almost two decades of conflict in Afghanistan that led to the death of thousands.

The agreement was signed in Doha, Qatar, which is Taliban's political headquarters and has been the host for talks over the past year and a half. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo witnessed the signing.

VIDEO: Attendees gather in #Doha ahead of the signing of the peace deal between the US and the Taliban. #Afghanistan #PeaceDeal pic.twitter.com/Hrk43Jm2Us

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) February 29, 2020

Senior Taliban leaders along with US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi attended the ceremony. Representatives from fifty other countries, including foreign ministers of different countries also attended the ceremony.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is expected to issue a joint declaration with the government of Afghanistan in Kabul.

https://www.brecorder.com/2020/02/29/575950/i-have-always-maintained-that-political-solution-is-the-only-path-to-peace-vindicated-khan-welcomes-us-taliban-doha-accord/

Hours before the deal, the Taliban ordered all its fighters in Afghanistan "to refrain from any kind of attack ... for the happiness of the nation."

"The biggest thing is that we hope the U.S. remain committed to their promises during the negotiation and peace deal," said Reuters quoted Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the hardline Islamist group.

The Taliban have been waging an armed rebellion since 2001 when the US toppled the armed group from power in a military invasion. This deal will pave way for US troop numbers to drop to 8,600 from about 13,000 in the weeks following the deal.

Prior to the deal, Taliban commanders said the group will release 1000 Afghan prisoners. In exchange, they expect the Afghan government to release their 5000 fighters.