The White House signaled progress Friday in preparations for a peace deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan, saying that discussions between President Donald Trump and top advisors went \u201cvery well\u201d.<\/p>\n
Trump met at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf course with national security advisors including Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford, the White House said quoted in a report by AFP.<\/p>\n
Also present were national security point man John Bolton and the US Special Representative for the Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad.<\/p>\n
\u201cDiscussions centered around our ongoing negotiations and eventual peace and reconciliation agreement with the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan. The meeting went very well, and negotiations are proceeding,\u201d deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement as quoted by AFP.<\/p>\n
Mr. Trump said in a tweet\u00a0that he had a \u201cvery good\u201d meeting on Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany on the opposite side of this 19-year war, and us, are looking to make a deal \u2014 if possible,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Reports indicate that as part of a possible peace deal between the US and the Taliban, the US forces number will be reduced to 8,000 to 9,000 from the current 15,000.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn continued close cooperation with the government of Afghanistan, we remain committed to achieving a comprehensive peace agreement,\u201d US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement as quoted by AFP.<\/p>\n