The Daily A Potential Peace Deal With the Taliban
Sep 3, 2019
Mujib Mashal, a Senior Correspondent for The New York Times based in Afghanistan, shares his firsthand insights on the delicate peace negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban. He discusses the complexities of building trust after two decades of conflict and the emotional stakes involved in the potential deal. The conversation also highlights the challenges in addressing Afghanistan's future governance and the significance of shifting dialogues from U.S. to Afghan representatives. Mashal's stories bring to life the intricate dance of diplomacy in a tense geopolitical landscape.
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Covering the Negotiations
- Mujib Mashal describes the challenges of covering the US-Taliban negotiations in Doha, Qatar.
- He explains the difficulties in accessing information and building trust with secretive Taliban leaders.
A Midnight Conversation
- Mashal shares an anecdote about a late-night conversation with a Taliban negotiator in his hotel room.
- The negotiator brought cookies and dried fruit, then covered Mashal's knees with a pillow due to cultural modesty.
Negotiation Framework
- The US-Taliban negotiations involve a troop withdrawal in exchange for assurances against harboring terrorists and future intra-Afghan talks.
- The US wants a slower withdrawal (years), while the Taliban demands a rapid exit (months).