Withdrawal of Foreign Troops: Main Focus of Taliban-US Talks in Qatar

Informed sources from the US-Taliban negotiations in Doha, Qatar, aimed at ending 17 years of war in Afghanistan, stated on Tuesday, March 7, that the main topic of discussion is the withdrawal of foreign troops and combating terrorism in the country. According to Reuters, this round of negotiations, which began on Monday with talks over lunch, is considered the most significant phase of US-Taliban negotiations. The Taliban delegation is led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the political head and a co-founder of the Taliban, who was released last year after eight years in prison in Pakistan. Sources close to the negotiations said the main issue is to determine a schedule for the potential withdrawal of foreign troops and to obtain necessary guarantees from the Taliban that after the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, terrorist groups will not establish themselves in the country. An American official stated, 'The Taliban knows that foreign troops are committed to leaving this country, but it is our responsibility to ensure that in the future, terrorist groups will not use Afghan soil to attack other countries.' Currently, about 14,000 American troops are stationed in Afghanistan as part of NATO forces under US command to train, advise, and assist Afghan government forces. Another American official mentioned, 'Now all the relevant (suitable) individuals from both sides are participating in these negotiations.' US President Donald Trump told Congress this month that as negotiations with the Taliban progress, he intends to reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan. He added, 'Great nations do not fight endless wars.' According to informed sources, the US delegation led by Zalmay Khalilzad, the special representative of the State Department, is trying to persuade the Taliban to negotiate with the Afghan central government and accept a ceasefire before the start of offensive operations in the spring. However, the Taliban, which considers the Afghan government a 'puppet of foreigners,' has so far refused to negotiate with Kabul. Reuters adds that supporters of the Afghan government are concerned that the US may accept a sudden withdrawal of its troops in these negotiations, which could endanger parts of the population opposed to the Taliban and social reforms, including education and employment for women, which the Taliban had banned. Another informed source stated that the first meeting between Zalmay Khalilzad and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on Friday was 'formal but respectful,' and the two sides agreed to continue negotiations over the next five days with the aim of achieving specific goals. The direct participation of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder and political head of the Taliban, in this round of negotiations has increased hopes for its success. His presence in these negotiations is seen as a move by the Taliban to emerge from political and diplomatic isolation. An American official said, 'Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was the first speaker at the meeting on Monday and met with American and Qatari officials. He asked his delegation to continue negotiations. He will remain in Qatar but may not participate in all discussion sessions.'