ISLAMABAD : The US will sign a peace agreement with the Taliban on 29 February intended to end America’s longest running war, after negotiators agreed to terms that will pave the way for a troop withdrawal and new talks with Afghanistan’s government. The Taliban had ruled Afghanistan until a US-led coalition ousted the group after the US invaded the country in 2001. A US delegation led by envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been negotiating with the Taliban since late 2018, and it’s Khalilzad who will sign the deal with the Taliban in Doha. The US now has about 13,000 of the almost 23,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak of 100,000 in 2011. A senior State Department official said last week that the US could withdraw troops in phases but only if the Taliban meet certain conditions.

Source: Mint February 21, 2020 12:53 UTC