U.S., Taliban Sign Deal Meant To End America's Longest War

Seven days ago, the Taliban began a seven-day “reduction of violence" period, a prerequisite to the peace deal signed with its militant leaders in Doha, Qatar this morning.  The deal aims to bring an end to eighteen years of bloodshed in Afghanistan and allow U.S. troops to finally come home.

Since the start of negotiations with the Taliban, the U.S. has stepped up its air assaults on the Taliban as well as the Haqqani network and a local Islamic State affiliate, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. Last year the U.S. Air Force dropped more bombs on Afghanistan than in any year since 2013.

President George W. Bush ordered the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Some U.S. troops currently serving there had not yet been born when the World Trade Center collapsed on that clear, sunny morning that forever changed the way Americans see the world.

The Taliban gave aid and comfort to Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network as they plotted, and then celebrated, the hijackings of four airliners that crashed into lower Manhattan, the Pentagon and a field in western Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3,000 innocent people.

The war dragged on for years as America tried to establish a stable, functioning state in one of the least developed countries in the world.

The U.S. has spent more than $750 billion on the war in Afghanistan and it has cost tens of thousands of lives on all sides.

The comprehensive peace agreement is made of four parts:

Guarantees and enforcement mechanisms that will prevent the use of the soil of Afghanistan by any group or individual against the security of the United States and its allies. 

Guarantees, enforcement mechanisms, and announcement of a timeline for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan. 

After the announcement of guarantees for a complete withdrawal of foreign forces and timeline in the presence of international witnesses, and guarantees and the announcement in the presence of international witnesses that Afghan soil will not be used against the security of the United States and its allies, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban will start intra-Afghan negotiations with Afghan sides on March 10, 2020, which corresponds to Rajab 15, 1441 on the Hijri Lunar calendar and Hoot 20, 1398 on the Hijri Solar calendar. 

A permanent and comprehensive ceasefire will be an item on the agenda of the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations. The participants of intra-Afghan negotiations will discuss the date and modalities of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, including joint implementation mechanisms, which will be announced along with the completion and agreement over the future political roadmap of Afghanistan.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attended the ceremony in Qatar but did not sign the agreement. Instead, it was signed by U.S. Peace Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

Addressing reporters after the signing ceremony, Pompeo said the U.S. is “realistic” about the peace deal it signed but is “seizing the best opportunity for peace in a generation.”

He said he was still angry about the 9/11 attacks and that the U.S. will not ”squander" what its soldiers “have won through blood, sweat and tears.” He said the U.S. will do whatever is necessary for its security if the Taliban do not comply with the agreement.

Thanks to @POTUS Trump’s leadership, we are finally making substantial progress toward ending our nation’s longest war. Today’s release of the Joint Declaration between Afghanistan and the U.S. marks a pivotal moment in the #AfghanPeaceProcess. #ForAfghanistan #WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/pWjgiUv6mj

— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) February 29, 2020