US Touts Partial Ceasefire With Taliban, Moves for Election-Year Troop Reduction

Ghani says 'notable' progress made toward Afghanistan peace deal

Jason Ditz 

Posted onFebruary 12, 2020CategoriesNewsTagsAfghanistan

Negotiation between the US and the Taliban is picking up pace. A partial ceasefire is expected to be agreed upon soon, and there is substantial hope that an outright peace deal could be reached shortly thereafter, if the US wants it.

US officials seem to be keen to emphasize the ceasefire, as opposed to the peace deal.That’s because President Trump is determined to carry out troop cuts ahead of the November election, and that’s the case whether or not the peace deal is reached.

Of course, the peace deal is already there to be had, and Trump has rejected it and added additional demands. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani noted “notable progress” on the peace deal front, saying the Taliban had made a proposal to deliver on President Trump’s demand for a violence reduction.
There is a growing risk that, as President Trump demands more from the Taliban, he may overreach and derail the peace process. This is possible, and it’s also possible Trump will just keep dragging on the war, even if troop cuts are in line before the election.

https://news.antiwar.com/2020/02/12/us-touts-partial-ceasefire-with-taliban-moves-for-election-year-troop-reduction/