US, Taliban agree to draft peace framework: envoy

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. and the Taliban agreed in principle to a draft framework that could pave the way to resolving the country's nearly two-decade long conflict, the U.S. envoy for the Afghan conflict said in remarks published Monday.

The agreement would see the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Central Asian country in exchange for sweeping concessions from the Taliban, including agreeing to a cease-fire and direct talks with the Afghan government, Zalmay Khalilzad told the New York Times.

The militant group had staunchly refused to take to the negotiating table with Kabul.

“We have a draft of the framework that has to be fleshed out before it becomes an agreement,” Khalilzad, who just returned to Afghanistan following six days of talks with the Taliban, said. “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.”

Washington has been seeking to ensure that whatever happens in Afghanistan the country is never again used as a safe-haven for terrorists to plot attacks, like the devastating Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy.

Khalilzad said the U.S. has sufficient confidence in the framework to continue working to flesh out its details.

The Times cautioned that the framework is still preliminary, but cited an anonymous senior U.S. official who said Taliban negotiators have gone back to the group's leadership to present the American requirements.

An unnamed Taliban official confirmed the agreement's details to the newspaper, but appeared to distance the agreement's dependence on direct talks with the Afghan government, or a cease-fire.