There is a possible new power-sharing agreement coming out in Afghanistan, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Monday.
“The Afghan government needs to organize itself and reach an agreement,” Esper said at Brookings Institution event. “We understand right now there is a possible new power-sharing agreement coming out. If that is successful, we can form an Afghan negotiating team with consent with with the Taliban.”
Esper said the US arranged a peace agreement with the Taliban to eventually lead to an Afghan negotiation.
He, however, said that the peace process was not going as quickly as expected.
“It is behind schedule,” Esper said. “We continue to talk to both sides about what they need to do to fully implement the agreement.”
While the Taliban has kept its word on not attacking international forces, there has not been a reduction in violence from the group, Esper suggested.
He said that US conducted counter strikes against the Taliban in defense of Afghan forces and will continue to do that.
He also said that there have been prisoner exchanges, but not enough.
The US-Taliban deal stipulated release of up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 Afghan government prisoners by March 10 when intra-Afghan negotiations were scheduled to begin.
The Afghan government has released 850 Taliban prisoners and the Taliban has freed around 100.
On Monday, the Afghan National Security Council urged the Taliban to begin direct talks after release of their 1,500 prisoners.
