US and Taliban negotiators have concluded their ninth round of talks in Qatar, with the sides saying they are close to an agreement.
US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said that he would be travelling to Kabul later on Sunday for consultations.
“We are at the threshold of an agreement that will reduce violence and open the door for Afghans to sit together to negotiate an honorable and sustainable peace and a unified, sovereign Afghanistan that does not threaten the United States, its allies, or any other country,” Khalilzad said on Twitter.
Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen also confirmed that that the latest round of talks “successfully” ended, adding some technical issues would be discussed with the US team on Sunday afternoon.
He said that they were close to peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict.
The sides did not provide details on the possible agreement. Khalilzad has previously said that the talks with the Taliban focus on four key issues including counterterrorism assurances, troop withdrawal, intra-Afghan talks and ceasefire.
The comments come a day after the Taliban attacked Kunduz city in north Afghanistan, before they were pushed back by Afghan forces.
Khalilzad said that he raised the Kunduz attack in talks, telling the Taliban that “violence like this must stop.
“Ultimately, war will only end when all sides agree it must end. All Afghans must come together in intra-Afghan negotiations to achieve a political settlement and comprehensive ceasefire. I am confident we are on the only practical path to reducing violence and achieving peace,” Khalilzad said.
