U.S., Taliban To Sign Agreement On Feb. 29

The pact would be sealed after a week-long period of reduction in violence in Afghanistan

The U.S. and the Taliban will sign an agreement on February 29, the end of a weeklong period of violence reduction in Afghanistan, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Taliban said on Friday.

The agreement could represent a chance for peace after 18 years of war and a U.S. troop presence that dates back to 2001, as well as boosting U.S. President Donald Trump’s hopes of pulling U.S. forces out of Afghanistan.

However, past attempts at negotiating peace agreements have been scuttled by Taliban attacks on international forces.

The reduced violence period, to be observed by Afghan, international and Taliban forces, will begin at midnight (1930 GMT, 1:00 am IST), an Afghan official and Taliban leaders said.