Monitoring Desk
In a historic movement, the US and Taliban signed a peace agreement in Qatari capital Doha on Saturday evening. Zalmai Khalilzad, the US chief negotiator and Taliban’s deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Bradar signed the peace deal.
Under the declaration, all foreign troops would leave Afghanistan within next 14 months after implementation of peace agreement. 5000 US troops would leave Afghanistan within 135 days.
Under the declaration, the United States commits to facilitate discussions between Pakistan and Afghanistan to work out arrangements to ensure neither country’s security is threatened by actions from the territory of other side. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has arrived Doha to witness the signing of the agreement.
“The agreement we will sign is a test”, Mike Pompeo said. Addressing the ceremony, he said it was just a beginning. He however stated that the future of Afghanistan is for Afghans to determine.
Taliban deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar while addressing the ceremony said that Taliban want to have good relations with all organized political forces. “I call on all factions to come together for Islamic values”, Mullah Baradar said.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also thanked government of Pakistan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for playing key role in success of negotiations. He however stated that Afghan forces rendered great sacrifices for ensuring peace and said that 10 million people were displaced by war in Afghanistan.
Taliban Chief negotiator, Masoom Stankzai termed the agreement as success of Afghan people. He stated that Afghan masses rendered great sacrifices in restoring the independence of Afghanistan.
Ambassadors of various countries also witnessed the signing ceremony in a hotel in Doha.
