Taliban makes cease-fire offer

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Zalmay Khalilzad at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington Associated Press/Photo by Jacquelyn Martin (file)

Taliban officials said they gave U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad a document on Wednesday proposing a seven- to 10-day cease-fire. The U.S. government has not yet confirmed the deal.

What comes next? If the United States accepts the offer, it will pave the way for talks that could eventually lead to peace. The two sides would discuss a permanent cease-fire, the process for withdrawing American troops, and the fate of thousands of Taliban fighters. The United States came close to an agreement with the Taliban in September, but talks fell apart after the insurgent group increased its attacks.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about a roadside explosion claimed by the Taliban that killed two U.S. service members on Saturday.

Onize Ohikere

Onize is WORLD’s Africa reporter and deputy global desk chief. She is a World Journalism Institute graduate and earned a journalism degree from Minnesota State University–Moorhead. Onize resides in Abuja, Nigeria.

@onize_ohiks