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| Reduction-of-violence agreement reached with Taliban, U.S. officials say | Reduction-of-violence agreement reached with Taliban, U.S. officials say |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| U.S. officials confirmed Friday that an agreement has been reached with the Taliban for a seven-day reduction of violence in Afghanistan but declined to say when the nationwide pause would begin. | U.S. officials confirmed Friday that an agreement has been reached with the Taliban for a seven-day reduction of violence in Afghanistan but declined to say when the nationwide pause would begin. |
| The violence reduction deal, should it hold, is to be followed by the signing of a broader U.S.-Taliban agreement under which the militants will begin direct negotiations with Afghan leaders — on a long-term cease-fire in the 19-year war and Taliban inclusion in government — and the United States will begin withdrawing U.S. troops. | The violence reduction deal, should it hold, is to be followed by the signing of a broader U.S.-Taliban agreement under which the militants will begin direct negotiations with Afghan leaders — on a long-term cease-fire in the 19-year war and Taliban inclusion in government — and the United States will begin withdrawing U.S. troops. |
| The broader agreement is nearly identical to one negotiated in September that was canceled by President Trump after a Taliban attack that killed a U.S. soldier before it was signed. The newly negotiated week-long reduction in violence, which is to encompass all of Afghanistan and include Taliban, U.S. and Afghan forces, is designed to show good faith on both sides. | The broader agreement is nearly identical to one negotiated in September that was canceled by President Trump after a Taliban attack that killed a U.S. soldier before it was signed. The newly negotiated week-long reduction in violence, which is to encompass all of Afghanistan and include Taliban, U.S. and Afghan forces, is designed to show good faith on both sides. |
| “Now we have an agreement on the reduction of violence,” said a senior Trump administration official who briefed reporters in Munich after a meeting there between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. | “Now we have an agreement on the reduction of violence,” said a senior Trump administration official who briefed reporters in Munich after a meeting there between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. |
| “Should the Talibs implement what they’ve committed to doing, we will move forward” with the broader deal, the official said. “The reduction-of-violence agreement is very specific. . . . There’s detail that includes . . . roadside bombs, suicide bombs, rocket attacks.” | “Should the Talibs implement what they’ve committed to doing, we will move forward” with the broader deal, the official said. “The reduction-of-violence agreement is very specific. . . . There’s detail that includes . . . roadside bombs, suicide bombs, rocket attacks.” |
| In comments earlier this week, Defense Secretary Mike T. Esper said it would also cover U.S. airstrikes and other activities. Esper also attended the Munich meeting, along with the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Austin S. Miller, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the chief U.S. negotiator with the Taliban. | In comments earlier this week, Defense Secretary Mike T. Esper said it would also cover U.S. airstrikes and other activities. Esper also attended the Munich meeting, along with the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Austin S. Miller, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the chief U.S. negotiator with the Taliban. |
| Under the September agreement, the Taliban “agreed to break with terrorism in the areas they control, no hosting nor presence, no training, no recruitment or fundraising,” said the senior official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under government ground rules. | |
| Miller has said that U.S. officials can conduct their missions of training and supporting Afghan security forces and counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and other groups with about two-thirds of the current force of about 13,000. | Miller has said that U.S. officials can conduct their missions of training and supporting Afghan security forces and counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and other groups with about two-thirds of the current force of about 13,000. |
| Initial reductions under the agreement would bring that number down to 8,600. Further reductions, U.S. officials have said, would be “conditions-based,” depending on Taliban compliance with other terms of the agreement and progress in the inter-Afghan talks. | Initial reductions under the agreement would bring that number down to 8,600. Further reductions, U.S. officials have said, would be “conditions-based,” depending on Taliban compliance with other terms of the agreement and progress in the inter-Afghan talks. |
| The official did not respond to questions about when the reduction in force would start, although others have said they expect it to commence in the next several days. | The official did not respond to questions about when the reduction in force would start, although others have said they expect it to commence in the next several days. |
| Hudson reported from Munich. | Hudson reported from Munich. |