Afghan Taliban agree to temporary ceasefire: report

The Afghan Taliban’s ruling council has agreed to a temporary cease-fire in the war torn country, officials from the group told US wire agency Associated Press (AP) on Sunday.

However, Afghan Taliban officials did not specify when the ceasefire would come into effect.

According to the report, it is possible that the ceasefire will pave the way for a peace agreement between the US and the Afghan Taliban. A ceasefire was a key demand of the US as a precursor to any talks between the two parties.

AP reported that the agreement needs a final nod from the Afghan Taliban chief. However, officials told the news service that there would be no problems in getting the approval. 

The report did not mention the duration of the ceasefire but it has predicted that it will last for at least 10 days. 

Also read: US-Afghan Taliban take 'brief pause' in negotiations

Taliban officials, who spoke to AP on the condition of anonymity, said that a "four-member negotiating team" agreed on the ceasefire after holding talks for a week.

Washington is trying to secure a peace deal that would allow US President Donald Trump to end the longest war in the nation's history — a key promise he made during his election campaign. 

The conflict was launched 18 years ago in 2001 after the September 11 attacks by al-Qaeda . 

Prior attempts by the Trump administration to secure an agreement had stalled, as the Taliban appeared unwilling to make commitments required by the US.

According to the report, a "key pillar" of the potential deal will be direct negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government to shape the future of the war torn country. 

Those negotiations will reportedly cover topics ranging from a path forward on free speech, women's rights, the fate of Taliban fighters, and what will happen to Afghan warlords.

It is pertinent to mention that earlier this month, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad had announced that they were taking a “brief pause” from negotiations with the Afghan Taliban after an attack near the Bagram airbase.