Featured in afghanistan peace negotiations
The rise of Mullah Yaqoob, the Taliban’s new military chief
The selection of such an inexperienced commander has also hinted at possible divisions within the Taliban, which has undergone bitter leadership transitions and growing internal dissent in recent years.
Trump: the US ‘never really fought to win’ in Afghanistan
"Except at the beginning, we never really fought to win."
Trump announces he will meet with Taliban leaders now that the peace deal has been signed
Trump did not say when he would meet with Taliban leaders.
It is not certain if all US troops will leave Afghanistan over the next 14 months
Defense Secretary Mark Esper called the 14-month timeline in the agreement “aspirational.”
Top Pentagon leaders can’t say if any secret side deals are part of the Afghanistan peace agreement
“I know there’s the base agreement and some annexes," said Defense Secretary Mark Esper. "I don’t know if those have been agreed upon as secret or something."
The US and Taliban are considering a 7-day ‘reduction in violence,’ SecDef Esper says
'I think peace deserves a chance -- but it will demand that all parties comply with their obligations if we move forward.'