Ten day Taliban ceasefire

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The Taliban will implement a 10-day ceasefire with US troops, a reduction in violence with Afghan forces and discussions with Afghan government officials if it reaches a deal with US negotiators in talks in Doha, sources said.

If an agreement is sealed, it could revive hopes for a long-term solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.

Taliban and US negotiators met on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss a peace deal, according to a spokesman for the Taliban office in Qatar. Talks were “useful” and would continue Suhail Shaheen said on Twitter.

US President Donald Trump called off the stop-start talks to end the 18-year war in September after a US soldier was killed in an attack by the militant group.

They resumed but were interrupted again in December after the Taliban launched a suicide attack on a US base outside Kabul killing two civilians.

Sources close to the matter told Reuters the Taliban’s top leadership agreed to implement a 10-day ceasefire with US troops once a deal was signed in Doha and to “reduce” attacks against the Afghan government.

A senior Taliban commander said: “The US wanted us to announce a ceasefire during peace talks which we rejected. Our shura (council) agreed to a ceasefire the day the peace accord is signed.”

Once an agreement is in place, the Taliban and Afghan government could meet face to face in Germany, said the commander. Previously, the Taliban refused to engage in talks with the Afghan government.

The US team in Doha demanded a ceasefire “which we declined due to some issues,” the Taliban commander said. “Now most reservations have been addressed.” Another source close to the talks confirmed the commander’s version of events.

A signing date has not been fixed, but the Taliban commander said he expected it to be “soon.”

Both sources asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

A US State Department spokeswoman declined to comment and the Pentagon referred queries to the State Department.

An Afghan presidency spokesman said a ceasefire was the only way to achieve sustainable and dignified peace. “Any plan which proposes a ceasefire as a basic step will be acceptable for the government,” Sediqi Sediqqi tweeted.

Violence in Afghanistan rose after the breakdown of talks in September.

The Taliban’s readiness to reduce violence revives the peace process moving forward before the militant group launches what is usually an annual spring offensive in early April.