- Title: Pentagon chief says U.S. working towards 'good deal' with Taliban
- Date: 7th September 2019
- Summary: ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PARLY AND ESPER WALKING TOWARDS BUILDING PARLY AND ESPER SHAKING HANDS JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE PARLY AND ESPER AT NEWS CONFERENCE, LISTENING TO QUESTION ABOUT AFGHANISTAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENCE SECRETARY, MARK ESPER, SAYING: "So I think that with regard to Afghanistan, the principal reason why we went to Afghanistan in 2001 is to ensure that that country is no longer a safe haven for terrorists who have the ability to act against the United States, or against our partners. And I think in the last 18 years, we've been very successful in that regard. The question is what is the way forward and how do we achieve that in a different way while maintaining that protection to our countries. And so my view, the United States' view is that the best way forward is a political agreement, and that is what we're working on diligently right now. And that means, that doesn't mean we'll take any deal, but we want to make sure we have a good deal, a good enough deal that guarantees at least the security of our countries going forward and a brighter path ahead for the Afghan people than the trajectory we're currently on." ESPER AND PARLY WALKING OUT OF NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF ESPER AND PARLY SHAKING HANDS IN FRONT OF U.S. AND FRENCH FLAGS VARIOUS OF ESPER AND PARLY WITH AIDES IN ROUNDTABLE MEETING
- Embargoed: 21st September 2019 11:41
- Keywords: Taliban Afghanistan conflict violence Esper political deal
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA002AVNR8SN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Saturday (September 7) that while it was seeking a political agreement with the Taliban, Washington would not accept just any deal after a wave of violence cast a shadow over its talks with the insurgent group.
Afghan leaders including President Ashraf Ghani have been increasingly critical of the apparent draft deal reached between U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban representatives in Doha this week as the violence has escalated.
Esper was speaking during a news conference with his French counterpart in Paris.
Under the draft accord with the Taliban, thousands of U.S. troops would be withdrawn over the coming months in exchange for guarantees that Afghanistan would not be used as a base for militant attacks on the United States and its allies.
However, according to the agreement, a full peace agreement to end more than 18 years of war would depend on subsequent "intra Afghan" talks. The Taliban have rejected calls for a ceasefire and instead stepped up operations across the country.
Afghanistan's Tolo TV reported that the Afghan president had been due to visit Washington for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday only for his trip to be canceled at the last minute.
The United States ended its combat role in 2014, although 20,000 U.S. and NATO forces remain. They still train and support Afghan troops fighting the Taliban who fear being left vulnerable if the United States leaves.
(Production: Clotaire Achi, Michaela Cabrera) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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