DOHA – The Afghan Peace Deal. United States and the Taliban finally came together after 19 years to sign a peace deal on february 29th. Meanwhile, the deal will see the withdrawal of thousands of US troops from Afghanistan.
According to details, representatives from US and Taliban signed the deal in Doha. Mullah Baradar was the head of the Taliban delegation that came to sign the deal. Former Afghan envoy to Pakistan, Mullah Abdus Salam Zaeef accompanied him. This marked the end of the longest war-engagement in US history. Almost two decades of conflict in Afghanistan that led to the death of thousands and trillions of dollars lost.
The signing ceremony happened in Doha. Representatives and diplomats from 50 countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, US, and India attended. Senior Taliban leaders along with US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also attended. Meanwhile, foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi represented Pakistan at the ceremony. The Afghan Peace Deal.
This deal will now pave way for US troop numbers to drop to 8,600 from about 13,000 in a 14-month time. Meanwhile, Taliban commanders said the group will release 1000 Afghan prisoners. In exchange, they expect the Afghan government to release their 5000 fighters.