{"id":61488,"date":"2020-02-13T15:36:18","date_gmt":"2020-02-13T15:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/13\/us-taliban-peace-deal-on-the-table-says-esper\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:33:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:33:53","slug":"us-taliban-peace-deal-on-the-table-says-esper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2020\/02\/13\/us-taliban-peace-deal-on-the-table-says-esper\/","title":{"rendered":"US-Taliban peace deal \u2018on the table,\u2019 says Esper"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MUNICH \u2015 Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Thursday confirmed a U.S.-Taliban peace deal is \u201con the table,\u201d and that it hinges on a seven-day reduction in violence<\/a> \u2015 a sign that all sides are closer than ever to ending of the 18-year conflict, America\u2019s longest war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are expected to finalize details when they meet with Afghan President Ashaf Ghani at the Munich Security Conference<\/a> this week. The meeting comes just days after President Donald Trump reportedly approved a conditional peace deal with the Taliban that would withdraw the last American troops from the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe best if not only way forward is a political agreement,\u201d Esper said at the NATO Defense Ministerial Conference<\/a> in Brussels. \u201cWe have the basis for one on the table, we are taking a hard look at it, we are consulting with our allies, we are consulting with Congress and others. And I think peace deserves a chance, but it will demand all parties to comply with their obligations, if we move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement, which Trump would still have to formally approve, calls for both Taliban and U.S. forces to pledge to adhere to a week\u2019s \u201creduction of violence\u201d that would lead to an agreement signing between the United States and the Taliban, according to the Associated Press<\/a>. That would be followed, within 10 days, by all-Afghan negotiations to set the road map for the political future of a post-war Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esper declined to discuss the potential deal in detail, but said, \u201cIt is our view that seven days, for now, is sufficient. Our approach, as always, is conditions based, so it will be an evaluative process as we go forward\u2015if we go forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other conditions in the deal would reportedly include a Taliban pledge not to associate with al-Qaida, the Islamic State group or other militant groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\t