KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — A Taliban leader says the terrorist group will soon sign what he calls a "historic" agreement with the U.S.
Taliban deputy leader Sirajuddin Haqqani said in a New York Times op-ed on Thursday the deal would reduce violence for seven days and could lead to the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
A number of Afghan experts, including the former commanding general of U.S. forces in the region blasted The Times.They say it's outrageous to give an unchallenged platform to the leader of the terrorist Haqqani network who is regarded as one of the world's most accomplished and murderous terrorists.
This is just two weeks after U.S. military officials are confirming two American soldiers were killed and six were wounded when someone in an Afghan uniform opened fire with a machine gun in eastern Afghanistan.
A shootout between Afghan and American soldiers Saturday resulted in deaths on both sides.Afghan casualties were not released.
About 14,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Afghanistan to assist Afghan forces in counter-terrorism operations. They've been acting primarily as peacekeepers and in advising Afghan forces.President Trump is anxious to get U.S. troops out of Afghanistan.