The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, says the United States is seeking a “comprehensive peace agreement, not a withdrawal agreement” in its talks with the Taliban.
Khalilzad apparently responded to a Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen’s remarks on Tuesday, June 18, who said that the United States has “accepted” to withdraw all its forces from Afghanistan.
Taking to Twitter hours after the Taliban’s comments, Khalilzad said, they are preparing prepare for the next round of talks with the Taliban.
Khalilzad said that a comprehensive peace agreement is made up of four inter-connected parts: counter-terrorism assurances, troop withdrawal, intra-Afghan negotiations that lead to a political settlement; and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire.
“This is a framework which the Taliban accept,” Khalilzad said.
Khalilzad reiterated that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.
