Concerns About US-Taliban Peace Deal: Reuters

The United States has fought extremist forces in Afghanistan since 2001, including the Taliban. The war resulted in more than 3200 US and coalition military deaths, more than 20,000 wounded along with tens of thousands of more deaths and wounded among civilians and Afghan forces. The Trump administration is in a hurry to withdraw US forces. “The deal, which would see around 5,000 U.S. troops withdrawn and five bases closed in exchange for guarantees that Afghanistan would not be used as a base for militant attacks on America, was presented to [Afghan President ] Ghani this week by the special U.S. envoy for peace in Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad,” reports Reuters. “However, with the Taliban stepping up attacks in the capital Kabul and provincial centers across the country, the agreement has faced scepticism from several sides…” The negotiations largely excluded the democratically elected Afghan government as the Taliban refuse to recognize or cooperate with those leaders. Concern runs high that the minority group could use brute force to control the country. The draft agreement, which would open talks within Afghanistan to end fighting and achieve political settlement, requires approval by the US president. –YaleGlobal