Last Friday, a week-long "reduction in violence" took effect across Afghanistan as a result of extensive negotiations between the United States and the Taliban. This "reduction in violence", if successful, will be followed by the signing of an agreement between the two parties on February 29, in which the US will announce a withdrawal schedule for its troops in exchange for guarantees from the Taliban that it will no longer allow Afghan territory to be used as a launchpad for attacks that threaten global security.
If and when such an agreement is reached, Afghanistan can finally enter the crucial phase of intra-Afghan negotiations and take steps towards agreeing on a political settlement that would end the country's decades-long conflict for good.
The full article originally appears in Al Jazeera English.