Afghan government, Taliban reach breakthrough deal as calls grow for a ceasefire

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents in Doha, Qatar September 12, 2020. Picture taken with a fish-eye lens. REUTERS/Ibraheem al Omari

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan government and Taliban representatives reached a preliminary deal on Wednesday to press on with peace talks, their first written agreement in 19 years of war and welcomed by the United States as a chance to halt the violence.

The agreement lays out the way forward for discussion but is considered a breakthrough because it will allow negotiators to move on to more substantive issues, including talks on a ceasefire, even as Taliban attacks on Afghan government forces have continued unabated.