US urges Afghan Taliban to comply with peace deal

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the Taliban’s compliance with the landmark peace deal would determine the pace of American withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Pompeo was in Doha, Qatar to oversee signing of the landmark peace deal between the U.S. and the Taliban on Saturday.

''The Taliban and the U.S. have endured decades of hostilities and mistrust,'' he said, adding this effort [signing of peace deal] became real when Taliban expressed interests in pursuing peace and ending their relationships with al-Qaeda and other foreign terrorist groups, and realizing military victory was impossible.

“We will closely watch the Taliban’s compliance with their commitments and calibrate the pace of our withdrawal to their actions. This is how we will ensure that Afghanistan never again serves as a base for international terrorists,” he said.

In a statement, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley said the only way to end the war in Afghanistan is through a negotiated political settlement.

“Today is a reflection of the hard work of our Nation's military, the U.S. Department of State, intelligence professionals, and our valued partners,” he said, reiterating commitment to the Afghan people, and to ensuring that Afghanistan never becomes a safe haven for terrorists.

Earlier, addressing the signing ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Qatar’s foreign minister, said Qatari mediation helped make the signing of the peace agreement possible.

“We hope this historic agreement will contribute to achieving peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world,” he said.

After signing of the peace deal, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with the Taliban delegation, led by Mulla Baradar, at his Al Bahr Palace office.