AFGHANISTAN/MILITANTS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “More than 18 years after the United States invaded Afghanistan, President Trump has conditionally approved a peace deal with the Taliban that would withdraw the last American troops from the country, potentially beginning the end of America’s longest war, according to Afghan and American officials. But the deal will only be signed if the Taliban prove their commitment to a durable reduction of violence over a test period of about seven days later this month. If the Taliban do end hostilities and a deal is signed, the United States would then begin a gradual withdrawal of American troops, and direct negotiations would start between the Taliban and Afghan leaders over the future of their country.”
–Mujib Mashal and Lara Jakes, “Trump Gives Conditional Go Ahead on Peace Deal With Taliban, Officials Say,” The New York Times online, February 11, 2020