The U.S. wants any deal to include a promise from the Taliban that Afghanistan would not be used as a base by terrorist groups. The Taliban chief must approve the cease-fire decision but that was expected. Four members of the Taliban negotiating team met for a week with the ruling council before they agreed on the brief cease-fire. The first item on the agenda is expected to address how to implement a cease-fire between the Taliban and Afghanistan’s National Security Forces. The Taliban claimed they were behind a fatal roadside bombing that targeted American and Afghan forces in Kunduz.

Source: thestar December 29, 2019 10:00 UTC