Birth of “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”

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29
Feb

US-Taliban deal

Today a landmark peace agreement is signed after 18 years of war.

The agreement is expected to result in American troops leaving Afghanistan within 14 months, and lead to a dialogue between the Taliban and the Kabul government that, if successful, will end one of the longest-running conflicts in the world.

 

Zalmay Khalilzad and Mullah Baradar sign the US-Taliban peace agreement in the Qatari capital Doha. Credit to AFP via Getty Images
Zalmay Khalilzad and Mullah Baradar sign the US-Taliban peace agreement in the Qatari capital Doha. Credit: AFP via Getty Images

 

The signing ceremony was held in a conference room of a luxury Doha hotel, in the capital city of Qatar. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the Taliban co-founders, and Zalmay Khalilzad, an Afghan-American diplomat, signed the peace agreement at a gilded desk, then shook hands while people in the room shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is the greatest).

 

Zalmay Khalilzad (L) and Mullah Baradar (R) shake hands after signing a peace agreement between Taliban and US officials in Doha, Qatar, 29 February 2020. Credit to Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Zalmay Khalilzad (L) and Mullah Baradar (R) shake hands after signing a peace agreement between Taliban and US officials in Doha, Qatar, 29 February 2020. Credit: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

 

Although the Doha Accord has been already dubbed as 'a historic first step', the outcome still largely depends on a dialogue between the Taliban and the Kabul government, the latter been excluded from direct US-Taliban talks and making the real future prospect pretty blurry.

 

Afghans in Kabul watch a live TV broadcast at a restaurant during the signing ceremony between the US and the Taliban. Credit to Reuters
Afghans in Kabul watch a live TV broadcast at a restaurant during the signing ceremony between the US and the Taliban. Credit: Reuters

 

The agreement refers to the Taliban as the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” while the Kabul is still politically torn between Ashraf Ghani, the current president of Afghanistan, and Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive of the Unity Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

 

Mike Pompeo (second from left), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani (C), Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (centre right), and Mullah Baradar (R). Credit to Getty Images
Mike Pompeo (second from left), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani (C), Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (centre right), Mullah Baradar (R). Credit: Getty Images