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تصویر بندانگشتی

NATO Troops See An Opportunity For Afghan Peace In 2019

NATO troops stationed in Kabul said on Tuesday that 2019 brings an opportunity for peace as they ushered in the new year with a special workout session.

Troops participated in a 60-minute event comprising of sprints, squats, push-up and jumps at an open-air gymnasium days after reports of a possible US drawdown emerged.

General Scott Miller, Commander of US and NATO’s Resolute Support mission forces in Afghanistan, who participated in the special workout session, told troops the Taliban and the Afghan government are talking about peace.

“The policy review is going on in multiple capitals, peace talks (are) out there, regional players pressing for peace, the Taliban talking about peace, the Afghan government talking about peace,” Miller said. 

Spokesman for US and NATO Forces in Afghanistan Colonel David Butler meanwhile said this year brings a unique opportunity for peace in Afghanistan. 

“2019 brings a special and unique opportunity in Afghanistan. I think we have all seen the progress of peace talks and the Afghans and the Taliban have a real serious opportunity ahead of them, an opportunity for peace. Think of this -- 40 years of war has a possibility of coming to an end,” he said. 

“I think we all have the same vision as far as peace and the Afghan people that we work with, the soldiers, I think we are all on the same page as far as what we want. We want to leave here on the right foot and make sure they are going down the right path,” said US Sergeant First Class, Justin Moore. 

A White House spokesman last week said US President Donald Trump had not issued orders to the Pentagon to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. But the administration has not denied reports that the United States plans to pull out almost half of the 14,000-strong force currently deployed.

The reports come amid an intensification of moves towards peace negotiations in Afghanistan. 

US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad met Taliban representatives last month and discussed issues around a future troop withdrawal.

NATO Troops See An Opportunity For Afghan Peace In 2019

The US and NATO Forces spokesman says Afghans and the Taliban have “a real serious opportunity ahead of them”.

تصویر بندانگشتی

NATO troops stationed in Kabul said on Tuesday that 2019 brings an opportunity for peace as they ushered in the new year with a special workout session.

Troops participated in a 60-minute event comprising of sprints, squats, push-up and jumps at an open-air gymnasium days after reports of a possible US drawdown emerged.

General Scott Miller, Commander of US and NATO’s Resolute Support mission forces in Afghanistan, who participated in the special workout session, told troops the Taliban and the Afghan government are talking about peace.

“The policy review is going on in multiple capitals, peace talks (are) out there, regional players pressing for peace, the Taliban talking about peace, the Afghan government talking about peace,” Miller said. 

Spokesman for US and NATO Forces in Afghanistan Colonel David Butler meanwhile said this year brings a unique opportunity for peace in Afghanistan. 

“2019 brings a special and unique opportunity in Afghanistan. I think we have all seen the progress of peace talks and the Afghans and the Taliban have a real serious opportunity ahead of them, an opportunity for peace. Think of this -- 40 years of war has a possibility of coming to an end,” he said. 

“I think we all have the same vision as far as peace and the Afghan people that we work with, the soldiers, I think we are all on the same page as far as what we want. We want to leave here on the right foot and make sure they are going down the right path,” said US Sergeant First Class, Justin Moore. 

A White House spokesman last week said US President Donald Trump had not issued orders to the Pentagon to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. But the administration has not denied reports that the United States plans to pull out almost half of the 14,000-strong force currently deployed.

The reports come amid an intensification of moves towards peace negotiations in Afghanistan. 

US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad met Taliban representatives last month and discussed issues around a future troop withdrawal.

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