US to sign peace deal with Taliban forces to end war in Afghanistan

The US President Donald Trump recently announced that the United States of America will sign a peace agreement with the Taliban forces on February 29, 2020.

Highlights

The US and the Taliban forces are to sign peace agreement to end the war of 18 years in Afghanistan. After the agreement, 12,000 US troops that are currently deployed in Afghanistan are to return to US.

Taliban

The Talibans are sunni Islamic fundamentalists that are currently waging war in Afghanistan. The Taliban held power between 1996 and 2001. They emerged a powerful political and military organization in Afghanistan. Under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, Opium was completely eradicated. But today, 80% of the world opium originates in Afghanistan. However, the Talibans openly celebrated the 09/11 attacks on the US.

US-Taliban

The US waged war in Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attack. The war was waged to roll back the control of Taliban. The US conducted two major operations to contain terrorism of Talibans. They were Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-14) and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (2015-present).

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2020