Taliban Say They Are Readying For Talks With The Afghan Government

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the leader of the Taliban delegation, and Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. envoy for peace in Afghanistan, shake hands after signing an agreement at a ceremony between members of Afghanistan's Taliban and the U.S. in Doha, Qatar February 29, 2020. REUTERS/Ibraheem al Omari

Reuters: Afghan peace talks seen this month after U.S. shuttle diplomacy

KABUL/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Talks to end the 18-year-old conflict in Afghanistan may begin this month, sources said on Monday, a day after the U.S. special envoy visited the capital of neighbouring Pakistan and met Taliban leaders in Qatar.

The United States signed a troop withdrawal deal with the Taliban in February, but its attempts to usher the insurgent group towards peace talks with the Afghan government have been mired in setbacks and violence surged in March and April.

The Taliban’s spokesman Suhail Shaheen said on Twitter that U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad had discussed “the commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations” at the insurgent group’s political capital, Doha, on Sunday. Khalilzad had earlier met Pakistan’s army chief of staff, according to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.

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Update #1: Taliban say they are readying for talks with Kabul leaders (Military Times/AP)
Update #2: Afghan peace talks may begin this month after US envoy visits Pakistan, meets Taliban in Qatar – reports (RT)

WNU Editor: I have to see it to believe it.

U.S. Warns The Taliban To Curb Its Attacks

@Zabehulah_M33 You asked for clarity on Gen Miller’s calls for the Taliban to reduce violence. Let's clarify: The people of #Afghanistan want #peace. The world has asked the #Taliban to cease violence and focus on #COVID19. Now is the time to stop the violence. @suhailshaheen1 pic.twitter.com/9EUrUh67Bt

— USFOR-A Spokesman Col Sonny Leggett (@USFOR_A) May 2, 2020

The Guardian: US warns Taliban to curb attacks after exit deal calls for 80% cut to violence

Previously secret agreement emerges as spokesmen for US military and Taliban clash on Twitter

The US military has warned the Taliban it must curb attacks inside Afghanistan and revealed that a US troop withdrawal agreement signed in February included an informal commitment for both sides to cut violence by 80%.

The previously secret arrangement was revealed in a Twitter spat between the US military spokesman Col Sonny Leggett and his Taliban counterpart Zabihullah Mujahid. It comes after a sharp escalation in militant attacks since the agreement was sealed.

In a rare open letter to militants published on Twitter, Leggett warned: “If the violence cannot be reduced – then yes, there will be responses.”

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Update #1: Pentagon says Taliban attacks increased following signing of agreement with US -- CNN
Update #2: US military warns of ‘responses’ if Taliban violence continues -- DAWN

WNU Editor: The Taliban only shifted their attacks from NATO/coalition forces to directly attacking Afghan military forces .... NATO withholds key information on Taliban attacks: US watchdog (Al Jazeera). More here .... UN finds ‘disturbing increase in violence’ following U.S.-Taliban deal (Long War Journal). My prediction. The Taliban are not going to stop their attacks because the U.S. tells them to do so.

Taliban Rejects Calls For A Ceasefire During Ramadan In Afghanistan

The Taliban has cited continuing disagreements over peace process and a delayed prisoner swap as reasons to keep fighting [File: Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]

Al Jazeera: Taliban rejects call for ceasefire during Ramadan

President Ashraf Ghani had appealed to the group to lay down arms for the Islamic holy month that began on Friday.

The Taliban has rejected a government call for a ceasefire in Afghanistan for the holy month of Ramadan, saying a truce is "not rational" as they ramp up attacks on government forces.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had appealed to the armed group to lay down arms for Ramadan, which began on Friday, to allow the authorities to focus on tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

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WNU Editor: Peace talks are not the priority for the Taliban right now. Ramping up their military offensives is .... Taliban Ramp Up Attacks Even as Coronavirus Spreads in Afghanistan (New York Times). More here .... Over 2,800 attacks committed by Taliban after signing deal with US (TASS).

More News On The Taliban Rejecting Calls For A Ceasefire During Ramadan In Afghanistan

Taliban Rejects Afghan Ceasefire Offer During Ramadan -- Military.com/AFP
Taliban says no cease-fire with Kabul during Ramadan -- Arab News
Taliban Rejects Afghan Truce Calls During Ramadan -- VOA
Taliban rejects calls for Ramadan ceasefire -- Jerusalem Post/Reuters
Taliban rejects call for Ramadan ceasefire in Afghanistan – spokesman -- RT
Taliban's rejection of Ramadan ceasefire further wrecks peace prospect -- CGTN

Top U.S. Commander In Afghanistan And Taliban Meet In Doha To Discuss Violence Reduction

Commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan U.S. General Scott Miller attends a meeting in the Kandahar Governor's Compaund in Kandahar. © Reuters/REUTERS TV

Reuters: U.S. commander in Afghanistan and Taliban discuss violence reduction in Doha meeting

KABUL (Reuters) - The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan met Taliban leadership in Doha to discuss the need to reduce violence in the war-torn country, spokesmen for both sides said on Saturday, as continued clashes threaten to derail a fragile peace process.

The meeting between Taliban leaders and General Scott Miller, commander of U.S. forces and the NATO-led non-combat Resolution Support mission in Afghanistan, took place on Friday night. It came as the insurgent group accuses U.S. forces of breaching an agreement signed between the two sides in February.

“General Miller met with Taliban leadership last night as part of the military channel established in the agreement,” a spokesman for U.S. Forces in Afghanistan told Reuters. “The meeting was about the need to reduce the violence,” he said.

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Update #1: Taliban meet with US general amid tensions over peace deal -- AP
Update #2: Taliban, US commander discuss violence reduction in Afghanistan -- Al Jazeera

WNU Editor: At least both sides are still talking.

Taliban Warn That Their Deal With The U.S. In Afghanistan Is Near The Breaking Point

Members of Afghanistan's Taliban delegation gather ahead of an agreement signing with US officials in Doha, Qatar, on February 29, 2020. Reuters

DW: Taliban accuses US of violating Doha peace agreement

The militant group said it is "asking the Americans to seriously comply" with a preliminary peace deal. US military officials have accused the group of distorting the deal, saying it should be the one reducing violence.

The Taliban militant group has accused the US of failing to comply with the terms of a confidence-building agreement that included releasing thousands of militants and suspending attacks on military targets, Afghan media reported on Sunday.

"We are asking the Americans to seriously comply with the contents of the agreement and to alert their allies to fully abide by the agreement," the Taliban said in a statement published online.

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More News On The Taliban Warning That Their Deal With The U.S. In Afghanistan Is Near The Breaking Point

Taliban warn peace deal with US near breaking point -- ABC News/AP
Taliban warn deal with US in Afghanistan near breaking point -- Al Jazeera
Taliban warn US agreement breach could lead to mistrust -- Arab News

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Makes A Surprise Visit To Kabul

CNN: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits Kabul as peace deal faces uncertain future

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made unannounced visits to Kabul, Afghanistan and Doha, Qatar Monday to meet with key officials as efforts to broker a peace deal for Afghanistan are already on the rocks.

It was the first visit by the top US diplomat to Afghanistan since the signing of the US-Taliban agreement in Doha last month -- a historic agreement that was meant to trigger intra-Afghan negotiations and has already prompted an initial withdrawal of US troops. The future of that agreement has been called into question by continued violence by the Taliban against Afghan security forces and by a high-stakes political dispute in Kabul.

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More News On U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Making A Surprise Visit To Kabul

Pompeo leaves Kabul, no word on political power-sharing deal -- AP
Pompeo visits Kabul to try to break political deadlock -- AFP
Pompeo visits Kabul in bid to revive stalled peace process -- NBC
Pompeo in Kabul to hold separate and joint meetings with Abdullah and Ghani -- Khaama Press

Taliban And Afghan Government Officials Are Negotiating By Skype On A Prisoner Release

U.S. envoy for peace in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, speaks during a debate at Tolo TV channel in Kabul, Afghanistan April 28, 2019. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani

Reuters: Taliban-Afghan government Skype call breathes life into peace process

KABUL (Reuters) - The Taliban and the Afghan government held a “virtual” meeting on prisoner releases on Sunday, officials said, offering some hope of a breakthrough on a matter that has deadlocked the two sides and threatened a nascent peace process.

The two sides have differed on the release of prisoners - the Afghan government wanting a phased and conditional release and the Taliban wanting all prisoners released in one go as envisaged in an agreement signed with the United States in Doha last month.

The impasse threatened to derail a carefully negotiated peace process outlined in the agreement, including a pullout of foreign forces from Afghanistan after over 18 years of fighting.

The two sides spoke for over two hours in a Skype meeting facilitated by the United States and Qatar, officials said.

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WNU Editor: Afghanistan confirmed its first coronavirus-related death today .... Afghanistan confirms first coronavirus-related death (Anadolu Agency).

Afghan Government Prepares To Release 1,500 Taliban Prisoners

Photo: According to the decree, 100 Taliban prisoners will be released daily for 15 days. (Reuters: Parwiz)

The Guardian: Afghanistan peace talks stall over planned prisoner exchange

US agreement with Taliban was intended to help Afghans reach deal on political future

Afghanistan’s political chaos has deepened with disputes over presidential election results and a planned prisoner exchange delaying peace talks with the Taliban even as the US starts its troop withdrawal.

A US agreement with the Taliban signed last month on the departure of American forces was meant to set the stage for Afghans to reach a deal on their country’s political future after decades of civil war but those talks, expected to begin this week in Oslo, have been postponed indefinitely.

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WNU Editor: The Taliban want everyone released right away .... Taliban rejects Afghan government's phased release of prisoners (Al Jazeera). More on the Taliban's rejection on the prisoner release timetable is here .... Taliban reject Afghan offer to free 1,500 prisoners before talks (AFP).

More News On the Afghan Government Preparing To Release 1,500 Taliban Prisoners

Afghans set to release 1,500 Taliban; US wants less violence -- AP
Afghan government set to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners -- France 24
Afghan government to release Taliban prisoners as U.N. backs push to end war -- Reuters
Afghan Government to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners to further peace talks -- ABC News Online
Afghan president orders release of 1,500 Taliban prisoners -- The Hill
Ashraf Ghani agrees to release Taliban prisoners -- UPI
Afghanistan: Ghani signs decree to release 1,500 Taliban fighters -- Al Jazeera

U.S. Intelligence Believes The Taliban Have No Intension To Abide By The Terms Of The Peace Deal

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, leader of the Taliban delegation, and Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. envoy for peace in Afghanistan, shake hands after signing an agreement between members of Afghanistan's Taliban and the U.S. in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 29, 2020.

NBC News: U.S. has persuasive intel Taliban do not intend to abide by terms of peace deal, officials say

"They have no intention of abiding by their agreement," one official said. Trump said Friday, "Countries have to take care of themselves."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government has collected persuasive intelligence that the Taliban do not intend to honor the promises they have made in the recently signed deal with the United States, three American officials tell NBC News, undercutting what has been days of hopeful talk by President Donald Trump and his top aides.

"They have no intention of abiding by their agreement," said one official briefed on the intelligence, which two others described as explicit evidence shedding light on the Taliban's intentions.

Trump himself acknowledged that reality in extraordinary comments Friday, saying the Taliban could "possibly" overrun the Afghan government after U.S. troops withdraw.

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Update #1: Report: US Intelligence Says Taliban Plan to Break Peace Deal -- VOA
Update #2: US intel indicates Taliban does not plan to honor deal: report -- The Hill

WNU Editor: I am not surprised by this assessment. I have always believed the Taliban were always focused on getting the U.S. to leave so that they could then focus 100% on the Kabul government. Even President Trump has already voiced on what he thinks will happen next .... Trump says Taliban could possibly overrun Afghan government (Military Times). In the meantime, the first US soldiers are now leaving .... US begins troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, official says (AP).

U.S. Officials Say Resumption Of Violence In Afghanistan Is Unacceptable

The Hill: Pompeo: Increase in Afghanistan violence after deal with Taliban 'unacceptable'

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called a surge in violence in Afghanistan this week “unacceptable” and warned both the Taliban and the Afghan government to “stop posturing” ahead of intra-Afghan peace talks.

“The upsurge in violence in parts of Afghanistan over the last couple days is unacceptable,” Pompeo told reporters at the State Department on Thursday. “In no uncertain terms, violence must be reduced immediately for the peace process to move forward.”

The Taliban has resumed offensive operations against Afghan government forces after last week’s reduction in violence and after signing a deal Saturday with the United States that lays out a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

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WNU Editor: The Afghans have been at war against foreigners and themselves for decades. It is not going to stop overnight.

More News On U.S. Reaction To The Resumption Of Violence In Afghanistan

Resumption of violence in Afghanistan 'unacceptable,' must be reduced: Pompeo -- AFP
US defense leaders: Taliban peace deal results mixed -- AP
Esper: US-Taliban deal seeing 'mixed' results -- The Hill
Esper says Taliban not honoring deal as US warplanes bail out Afghan forces -- Military Times
US urges halt to Afghan violence but puts faith in Taliban -- AFP