US, Taliban Apparently to Sign Agreement in Absence of Afghan Gov’t

Some hours before inking an agreement between the Taliban and the US in Doha, representatives of the Afghan government have not yet come to the venue of the meeting.

News ID: 449365

Date: 01 March 2020 - 13:28

RNA - Earlier reports said that the Afghan government was due to send a delegation to Qatar to participate in the endorsement ceremony of the agreement but no Kabul delegation has appeared at the venue yet only a few hours to the ceremony.

Taliban had earlier this week underlined its interest in talks with the Afghan government as a political side.

According to Press TV, Taliban and the US are slated to sign the agreement at 17:00 (local Qatar time) in Doha in the presence of the international observers.

The expected deal provides a conditional schedule for the withdrawal of the roughly 13,000 remaining American troops. In the first phase, about 5,000 are to leave in 135 days. The withdrawal of the rest is expected to happen over the next 14 months, depending on the Taliban keeping their end of the bargain.

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