(MENAFN- Afghanistan Times) AT Monitoring Desk
KABUL: The White House national security adviser Robert
O'Brien told Axios in an exclusive interview that 'it is possible' US President
Donald Trump will cut a deal with the Taliban this year but that even if a deal
can't be struck, the president is still poised to reduce troops in Afghanistan.
"We're back in a situation where we're in talks with
the Taliban," O'Brien said. "The Afghan forces are doing better, and
I think we'll be in a position at some point soon, whether it's with a deal or
without a deal, to reduce our military footprint in Afghanistan."
Trump has long said he wants to pull American troops
out of Afghanistan. A source close to the president told Axios Trump views this
as one of his biggest unmet promises. The source worries Trump would order a
major drawdown before the 2020 election.
Asked whether he thought Trump would strike a deal with the
Taliban before the election, O'Brien said, "I don't judge things based on
when the election's going to take place, but I think it is possible that there'll
be a deal this year."
'We're working on it. But it has to be a good deal.'
'We were very close to doing a deal last year, and the
Taliban felt that they could increase pressure on the United States by blowing
up a bunch of people, including an American, right before some critical
end-game talks. This president does not respond to that type of tactic.'
'The president said there has to be a reduction in violence
prior to the signing of a deal and there needs to be a reduction of violence
and immediate transition to inter-Afghan talks after a deal," O'Brien
added. 'Ultimately it's going to be up to the Afghans to bring peace to
Afghanistan.'
Moreover, the United States and Taliban are negotiating a
possible release of more than 5,000 militant prisoners and a reduction of
Taliban violence before a peace deal could be struck, according to sources
privy to the developments, in what is seen as an unprecedented concession to
the militant group amid desperation for reconciliation.
The peace negotiations between the US diplomat Zalmay
Khalilzad and Taliban negotiators enter the 10th round. The latest round was
paused early December as the two sides went to consult their leaderships on the
finalizing of peace deal.
Taliban and Khalilzad have been holding unofficial meetings
since last week in Qatar.
Jalaluddin Shinwari, attorney general in Taliban government
(1996-2001), said that the two sides were busy on when and where to sign the
final deal.
'The Americans are emphasizing on violence reduction in
Afghanistan and Taliban are urging the release of five prisoners,' Shinwari
said, adding that the US had b probably agreed with the freedom of five Taliban
inmates prior to the signing of the peace deal.
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