US urges more truce; Taliban say ready for Afghan talks

KABUL Baradar says they are ready for talks.

The United States signed a historic deal with Taliban insurgents on Saturday that could pave the way toward a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan over the next 14 months and represent a step toward ending the 18-year-long war.

The deal was signed in the Qatari capital Doha by US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on hand to witness the ceremony.

Addressing the historic event, Pompeo said Washington will closely watch the Taliban compliance to the agreement to be signed between the two parties.

He said the Taliban have shown that they have the will to be peaceful during the recent ‘reduction in violence’ period.

He added that the agreement will mean nothing “if concrete actions are not taken on commitments and promises”.

Pompeo called on the Taliban to keep their promise to cut ties with Al Qaeda and keep fighting the militant Islamic State group.

Representatives from fifty countries, foreign ministers of different countries are attending the signing ceremony of the agreement.

Mullah Baradar on the occasion called the agreement signing in favor of the Afghans and foreigners.

He said: “We are committed to the agreement and will have good relations with all countries.”

He hoped foreign troops would withdraw from Afghanistan with the signing of this deal and all Afghans would live under an Islamic government. He said they were ready to begin intra-Afghan talks.

sa/ma