The United States and the Taliban will sign an agreement on February 29 after observing a weeklong reduction in violence in Afghanistan starting from Saturday midnight, both US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the militant groups confirmed on Friday. The agreement will be signed in presence of International observers, a Taliban spokesman said in a statement. It will also include intra-Afghan negotiations between the Taliban and an Afghan delegation that would include government officials. However, Faisal said that the Afghan forces will keep up normal military operations against other groups such as Islamic State during the reduction in violence period. He further added that on violation of the agreement by the Taliban, Afghan forces will retaliate.

Source: dna February 21, 2020 14:03 UTC