Latest Round of US-Taliban Talks Ends with No Deals, but Optimism

The most recent round of negotiations in Doha between the United States and the Taliban ended with no agreements about a ceasefire or the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. Nevertheless, the American side seemed eager to project an air of optimism. The chief U.S. negotiator, Afghanistan-born Zalmay Khalilzad, tweeted: “The conditions for peace have improved. It’s clear all sides want to end the war.” A Taliban spokesman agreed that there had been progress but emphasized the failure so far to reach any deals, especially regarding a ceasefire with the Afghan government. Media reports cited an unnamed Taliban commander as saying a ceasefire would first require the withdrawal of foreign troops. The Taliban have been refusing to negotiate directly with Kabul. The talks in the Qatari capital lasted for 16 days – continuing for a few days beyond what had been planned – making them the longest round of negotiations so far. No date has been set for their continuation.