Afghan govt., Taliban reach deal to press on with peace talks

Afghan government and Taliban representatives said on Wednesday they had reached a preliminary deal to press on with peace talks — their first written agreement in 19 years of war.

The agreement, while only laying out modalities for further discussions, is considered a major breakthrough because it will allow negotiators to move on to more substantive issues, including talks on a ceasefire.

"The procedure including its preamble of the negotiation has been finalized and from now on, the negotiation will begin on the agenda," Nader Nadery, a member of the Afghan government's negotiating team, told Reuters.

The Taliban spokesperson confirmed the same on Twitter.

(Cover: Delegates attend talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents in Doha, Qatar, September 12, 2020. /Reuters)

Source(s): Reuters