The Future of Afghanistan: Talks between the U.S. and the Taliban
The Future of Afghanistan: Talks between the U.S. and the Taliban

Author(s): Patryk Kugiel
Subject(s): Governance, International relations/trade, Military policy, Geopolitics, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Afghanistan; United States; Taliban; negotiations; NATO; peace talks; withdrawal of foreign forces; civil war;
Summary/Abstract: Recent progress in negotiations between representatives of the U.S. and the Taliban gives an opportunity to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan and the NATO mission there. The breakthrough comes at a time when the Taliban are the strongest since 2001, and the administration of President Donald Trump is seeking to withdraw troops from Afghanistan as soon as possible. This gives the negotiating advantage to the Taliban and risks breaking the talks. Withdrawal of foreign forces before an agreement on an intra-Afghan political deal can be reached could lead to the escalation of the civil war and the Taliban taking full power.

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