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Pompeo: 'Difficult' Afghan Peace to Help Reduce US Cost of War

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cautioned Tuesday that
   ongoing peace negotiations over the future of Afghanistan will be a
   "difficult" process but will help reduce the cost of war and risk to
   America.

   Pompeo spoke in Washington as the Taliban and representatives of the
   Afghan government continued their meetings in Doha, Qatar, for a fourth
   day to finalize an agenda for substantive peace negotiations to end
   decades of Afghan conflict.

   The U.S.-brokered talks or intra-Afghan negotiations kicked off
   Saturday in the Qatari capital, where the two negotiating teams have
   been tasked to agree on a permanent cease-fire and a power-sharing deal
   to govern Afghanistan after the withdrawal of all U.S. and allied
   troops.

   "We are now delivering a set of outcomes that will reduce the costs in
   blood from our American servicemen and women, in treasure from the
   American taxpayer and risk to the USA," Pompeo told a virtual event
   hosted by the Atlantic Council.

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