In November 2018 Indian representatives were at the Afgan peace conference. The Indian government had sent two retired diplomats the former envoy to Kabul.

WION Fineprint: Will the Taliban enter into politics?

The US-Taliban peace deal is expected to be signed on February 29 in Doha. Both India and Pakistan are going to be part of the final talks. Pakistani PM Imran Khan is already in Qatar ahead of the deal. Watch ground report:

India To Witness US-Taliban Peace Deal

The US-Taliban peace deal is expected to be signed on February 29 in Doha. Both India and Pakistan are going to be part of the final talks. Whatever is happening in Doha will have a significant impact in Kabul, Islamabad and New Delhi. Watch report:

What role will India and Pakistan play in US-Afghan peace talks

India invited to witness US-Taliban peace deal in Doha

India will be present at the signing of US-<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-taliban-expected-to-sign-peace-deal-on-february-29-mike-pompeo-282024">Taliban</a> deal which will be signed on February 29 in Doha. Indian envoy in Doha, Kumaran will be representing India after the invite&nbsp;was sent by the Qatari government.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/washington-looks-for-indian-support-ahead-of-taliban-us-deal-282155">Also Read: Washington looks for Indian support ahead of Taliban-US deal</a>

The State Department in a release on February 21 had announced the agreement saying, "We are preparing for the signing to take place on February 29."

The deal hinges on "reduction of violence" and so far no major violence has happened in the landlocked South Asian country.

The State Department&nbsp;in the same release said, "Intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter, and will build on this fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for Afghanistan."

The Taliban in its release confirmed the development saying, "Both parties will now create a suitable security situation in advance of agreement signing date, extend invitations to senior representatives of numerous countries and organizations to participate in the signing ceremony, make arrangements for the release of prisoners, structure a path for intra-Afghan negotiations with various political parties of the country".

Afghanistan and the US-Taliban peace deal was discussed during US President Donald Trump and&nbsp;PM Modi's meeting in Delhi this week.

US President Donald Trump in response to a question during his Delhi press conference had said, "I think India would like to see it happen. I spoke with Prime Minister Modi today, and I think they would very much like to see it happen."

"And we’re pretty close. We’ll see what’s going on. We’ve got two days now under our belt without violence or, I guess, a minimum of violence. And we’ll see what happens. But people want to see it," the US president had said.

India is Afghanistan's major development partner and has&nbsp;built the India-Afghanistan friendship dam in the western province of Herat and&nbsp;the Afghan Parliament in capital Kabul.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;

India will be present at the signing of US-Taliban deal which will be signed on February 29 in Doha. Indian envoy in Doha, Kumaran will be representing India after the invite was sent by the Qatari government.

India will be present at the signing of US-Taliban deal which will be signed on February 29 in Doha. Indian envoy in Doha, Kumaran will be representing India after the invite was sent by the Qatari government. Also Read: Washington looks for Indian support ahead of Taliban-US deal The State Department in a release on February 21 had announced the agreement saying, "We are preparing for the signing to take place on February 29." The deal hinges on "reduction of violence" and so far no major violence has happened in the landlocked South Asian country. The State Department in the same release said, "Intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter, and will build on this fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for Afghanistan." The Taliban in its release confirmed the development saying, "Both parties will now create a suitable security situation in advance of agreement signing date, extend invitations to senior representatives of numerous countries and organizations to participate in the signing ceremony, make arrangements for the release of prisoners, structure a path for intra-Afghan negotiations with various political parties of the country". Afghanistan and the US-Taliban peace deal was discussed during US President Donald Trump and PM Modi's meeting in Delhi this week. US President Donald Trump in response to a question during his Delhi press conference had said, "I think India would like to see it happen. I spoke with Prime Minister Modi today, and I think they would very much like to see it happen." "And we’re pretty close. We’ll see what’s going on. We’ve got two days now under our belt without violence or, I guess, a minimum of violence. And we’ll see what happens. But people want to see it," the US president had said. India is Afghanistan's major development partner and has built the India-Afghanistan friendship dam in the western province of Herat and the Afghan Parliament in capital Kabul.

Qatar invites India to be witness in Afghan peace deal in Doha

Taliban's head spokesman Sohail Shaheen, in an interview with a US news channel, said there is no proof that Al Qaeda was behind the deadly 9/11 attack in the United States.

Shaheen comments came at the time when <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-president-donald-trump-hails-very-good-discussions-with-the-taliban-243958">US-Taliban talks</a> are underway in Qatar.&nbsp;

Shaheen also stressed on the necessity for the war to end, adding that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/two-us-service-members-killed-in-afghanistan-nato-244690">death of two US service members in Afghanistan</a> highlights the fact that stopping of violence is essential.&nbsp;

Two American service members were killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said in a statement, as the United States seeks to reach a negotiated end to the nearly 18-year-old war.

The incident brings the number of US troops killed in Afghanistan to at least 14 in 2019.

About 14,000 US troops are stationed in Afghanistan as part of the US-led NATO mission to train, assist and advise Afghan forces and to carry out counter-terrorism operations.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the US military role in Afghanistan has basically turned into a "ridiculous" police force in a sign that he is open to a US troop drawdown there after 18 years of war.

Trump, inheriting a war begun by then-President George W. Bush in response to the September&nbsp;11, 2001 attacks, expressed a willingness to remove some of the US troops there but said some are needed to make sure the United States has intelligence assets on the ground.

Trump was briefed on Friday by top national security aides on a peace plan being negotiated by US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad with leaders of the Afghanistan government and the&nbsp;Taliban.

A pullout has raised fears within the US military and among some lawmakers that Afghanistan could plunge into a new civil war that could see a return of&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;rule and give al Qaeda and other militants a sanctuary in which to expand and plot new attacks on US and allied targets.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> US President Donald Trump yesterday on militant groups in Afghanistan: India is right there, they are not fighting it. We are fighting it. Pakistan is right next door, they are fighting it very little, very very little. It's not fair. <a href="https://t.co/syuYN37i6W">pic.twitter.com/syuYN37i6W</a>
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The US President on Wednesday looked frustrated as he spoke about militant groups in Afghanistan. He said, while the United States is doing the fighting, Afghanistan's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-should-take-a-larger-role-in-fighting-terrorism-in-afghanistan-donald-trump-244724">neighbours are doing very little</a>.

"India is right there, they are not fighting it. We are fighting it. Pakistan is right next door, they are fighting it very little, very very little. It's not fair," Trump said.&nbsp;

Taliban's head spokesman Sohail Shaheen, in an interview with a US news channel, said there is no proof that Al Qaeda was behind the deadly 9/11 attack in the United States.

Taliban's head spokesman Sohail Shaheen, in an interview with a US news channel, said there is no proof that Al Qaeda was behind the deadly 9/11 attack in the United States. Shaheen comments came at the time when US-Taliban talks are underway in Qatar. Shaheen also stressed on the necessity for the war to end, adding that the death of two US service members in Afghanistan highlights the fact that stopping of violence is essential. Two American service members were killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said in a statement, as the United States seeks to reach a negotiated end to the nearly 18-year-old war. The incident brings the number of US troops killed in Afghanistan to at least 14 in 2019. About 14,000 US troops are stationed in Afghanistan as part of the US-led NATO mission to train, assist and advise Afghan forces and to carry out counter-terrorism operations. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the US military role in Afghanistan has basically turned into a "ridiculous" police force in a sign that he is open to a US troop drawdown there after 18 years of war. Trump, inheriting a war begun by then-President George W. Bush in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks, expressed a willingness to remove some of the US troops there but said some are needed to make sure the United States has intelligence assets on the ground. Trump was briefed on Friday by top national security aides on a peace plan being negotiated by US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad with leaders of the Afghanistan government and the Taliban. A pullout has raised fears within the US military and among some lawmakers that Afghanistan could plunge into a new civil war that could see a return of Taliban rule and give al Qaeda and other militants a sanctuary in which to expand and plot new attacks on US and allied targets. #WATCH US President Donald Trump yesterday on militant groups in Afghanistan: India is right there, they are not fighting it. We are fighting it. Pakistan is right next door, they are fighting it very little, very very little. It's not fair. pic.twitter.com/syuYN37i6W — ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2019 × The US President on Wednesday looked frustrated as he spoke about militant groups in Afghanistan. He said, while the United States is doing the fighting, Afghanistan's neighbours are doing very little. "India is right there, they are not fighting it. We are fighting it. Pakistan is right next door, they are fighting it very little, very very little. It's not fair," Trump said.

Taliban's head spokesman says no proof Al Qaeda was behind 9/11 attack

President Donald Trump has decided to pull a significant number of troops from Afghanistan, a US official told AFP on Thursday, a day after he announced a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-islamic-state-defeated-us-will-pull-all-forces-out-of-syira-185369">withdrawal from Syria</a>.

"That decision has been made. There will be a significant withdrawal," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Currently, the United States has about 14,000 troops in Afghanistan working either with a NATO mission to support Afghan forces or in separate counter-terrorism operations.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/it-is-right-for-me-to-step-down-us-defense-secretary-jim-mattis-quits-185565">It is right for me to step down, says US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis&nbsp;</a>

Trump made his decision Tuesday, the same time he told the Pentagon he wanted to pull all US forces out of Syria.&nbsp;

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis quit earlier Thursday, saying his views were no longer reconcilable with Trump's.

The president's twin foreign policy decisions on Syria and Afghanistan are nothing less than epic, and could begin to unspool a series of cascading and unpredictable events across the Middle East and in Afghanistan.

Mattis and other top military advisors last year persuaded Trump to commit thousands of new troops to Afghanistan, where the Taliban were slaughtering local forces in the thousands and making major gains.

Trump at the time said his instinct was to get out of Afghanistan.

The Wall Street Journal reported that more than 7,000 troops would be returning from Afghanistan.

The pullout comes as the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-envoy-doubts-afghan-talibans-desire-for-peace-185562">US pushes for a peace deal with the Taliban</a>.

President Donald Trump has decided to pull a significant number of troops from Afghanistan, a US official told AFP on Thursday, a day after he announced a withdrawal from Syria.

President Donald Trump has decided to pull a significant number of troops from Afghanistan, a US official told AFP on Thursday, a day after he announced a withdrawal from Syria. "That decision has been made. There will be a significant withdrawal," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Currently, the United States has about 14,000 troops in Afghanistan working either with a NATO mission to support Afghan forces or in separate counter-terrorism operations. Also read: It is right for me to step down, says US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Trump made his decision Tuesday, the same time he told the Pentagon he wanted to pull all US forces out of Syria. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis quit earlier Thursday, saying his views were no longer reconcilable with Trump's. The president's twin foreign policy decisions on Syria and Afghanistan are nothing less than epic, and could begin to unspool a series of cascading and unpredictable events across the Middle East and in Afghanistan. Mattis and other top military advisors last year persuaded Trump to commit thousands of new troops to Afghanistan, where the Taliban were slaughtering local forces in the thousands and making major gains. Trump at the time said his instinct was to get out of Afghanistan. The Wall Street Journal reported that more than 7,000 troops would be returning from Afghanistan. The pullout comes as the US pushes for a peace deal with the Taliban.

Trump to cut troops in Afghanistan: US official