The United States and the Taliban have agreed in principle to the framework of a peace deal that would end the conflict.
"We have a draft of the framework that has to be fleshed out before it becomes an agreement,"U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad told the New York Times. "The Taliban have committed, to our satisfaction, to do what is necessary that would prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a platform for international terrorist groups or individuals."
The deal would end the 17-year conflict and ultimately result in U.S. forces leaving the country. The Taliban would agree to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a training ground for terrorist forces in exchange for a ceasefire.
While the framework is a major step toward ending the conflict, there is much work to do as both sides are skeptical of each other's intentions. In addition to ending the U.S. involvement, the Taliban would also have to negotiate terms with the official government of Afghanistan.
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