Kabul
The Taliban have offered a brief ceasefire to the US, two insurgent sources said on Thursday, a move which could allow the resumption of talks seeking a deal for Washington to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
Washington has for weeks been calling on the militants to reduce violence, posing it as a condition for resuming formal negotiations on an agreement that would see US troops begin to leave the country in return for security guarantees from the insurgents.
“It is an offer for a ceasefire either for seven or 10 days,” a senior Taliban official who requested anonymity told AFP, adding that the offer was made to US negotiators in Doha. “It has been finalised and given to the Americans. It is going to pave the way for an agreement.”
A second insurgent source confirmed that the offer had been handed to the US. The Taliban have yet to release an official statement, and Washington has not said whether it has received any offer from the insurgents or what its response will be.
The confirmation from the insurgents comes hours after Pakistan’s foreign minister said the Taliban has shown “a willingness” to reduce violence. “Today, positive progress has been made, the Taliban have shown their willingness to reduce the violence, which was a demand… it’s a step towards the peace agreement,” said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a video statement. He gave no further details.—AFP
