WASHINGTON \u2014 President Donald Trump\u2019s national security adviser said Tuesday he is cautiously optimistic that there could be a U.S. agreement with the Taliban over the next days or weeks, but a withdrawal of American forces is not \u201cimminent.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Robert O\u2019Brien was asked whether Trump would sign off on an agreement where both the Taliban and U.S. forces would pledge to adhere to a \u201creduction in violence\u201d<\/a> \u2014 a move that could lead to all-Afghan negotiations to end the decades-long conflict and outline a political future for the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The agreement would call for the Taliban and U.S. forces to refrain from conducting attacks or combat operations for seven days, according to a person familiar with the ongoing discussions who was not authorized to discuss the proposed agreement and spoke only on condition of anonymity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think that we\u2019re making significant progress,\u201d O\u2019Brien said at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council in Washington. \u201cIt\u2019s something we\u2019re keeping the president appraised of on a very regular basis. You hate to make predictions when it comes to Afghanistan … but I\u2019ll say that we\u2019re cautiously optimistic that some good news could be forthcoming on that front.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\t