US, Taliban Sign Deal Aimed at Ending War in Afghanistan

All US troops will be withdrawn in 14 months if the Taliban meets its commitments

U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad (L), and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban group's top political leader shake hands after signing a peace agreement between Taliban and U.S. officials in Doha, Qatar, on Feb. 29, 2020. Hussein Sayed/AP Photo

The United States signed a peace agreement (pdf) with Taliban militants on Feb. 29, aimed at bringing an end to 18 years of bloodshed in Afghanistan and allowing U.S. troops to return home from America’s longest war.

As part of the deal, the United States would withdraw 4,400 of 13,000 troops in the next three to four months, with the remainder exiting in 14 months. In exchange, the Taliban committed to preventing terrorists from using Afghanistan as a staging ground for attacks.