The Presidential Palace said the preparations for the intra-Afghan negotiations are being finalized and that the delay is due to preparations still being made by the Taliban’s negotiating team. The Palace also said that the technical problems it previously faced have been resolved.

Sources said the delay is due to issues within the leadership of the Taliban’s negotiating team, but added that demands are being made on both sides.

Despite the US’s withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan--to be completed within a year according to the US-Taliban agreement--First Vice President Amrullah Saleh in an interview with TOLOnews on Sunday night said the US will not “leave the country,” because it has “geostrategic interests"  in the area. He also said that the two countries "need each other."  

Based on the US-Taliban agreement signed in late February, the United States will withdraw its troops from Afghanistan within 14 months if conditions in the plan are met by the Taliban.