The Taliban on Saturday said the gap is narrowing in talks with Washington's special peace envoy over a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. In a voice message to The Associated Press, the Taliban spokesman in Doha, Suhail Shaheen, said both sides have offered new proposals for drawing down US and NATO forces. Other Taliban officials familiar with the negotiations had earlier told AP that the US was seeking a year and a half to withdraw its estimated 14,000 troops from Afghanistan, while the Taliban wanted it done in six months. In a tweet at the outset of the latest round of talks with the Taliban earlier this week, Khalilzad said the US and the Taliban need to find common ground. Khalilzad has urged both sides to find a middle ground to start talks in Doha.

Source: The Telegraph May 04, 2019 10:41 UTC