for the agreement for bringing peace which we celebrate today i cannot but i extend my thanks and appreciation to all of the. members of the team that have that has organized and has prepared for the success of this operation thank you for being with us and for and have a pleasant stay in durham if you some lessons of god be upon you. you're watching al-jazeera live here from doha and these were and are live pictures coming from doha where the foreign minister for qatar has just welcomed distinguished guests at the signing ceremony for a long term peace deal between the u.s. and the taliban that was mohammed bin a better man tani and of course we will continue to monitor all the speakers as they come to the lectern and then the signing ceremony itself might pompei i was in attendance here in doha along with him is the pakistani foreign minister shah mehmood qureshi the turkish foreign minister various members of the u.n.

security council taking to the lectern now is we thought was it his white pompei or the u.s. secretary of state let's listen in to what he has to say. i want to. move out. of. this city for you and for your support of both sides in this moment. that is in the power of your. hostility and. we all. know that our leaders should be in. a ship with. another foreign terrorist groups they also recognize that military victory was impossible. i then asked him bastard

to serve as our lead negotiator to gauge the taliban's sincerity the agreement that we will sign today is the true test of this effort we will closely watch the taliban's compliance with their commitments and calibrate the pace of our withdrawal to their actions this is how we will ensure that afghanistan never again serves as a base for international terrorists the negotiation process and doha with all of its twists and turns as shown it is possible for us to take this step together over the past 7 days by lim's levels have reached their lowest point in the last 4 years u.s. and afghan forces responded to the reduced enemy attacks by also respecting peace it was not perfect but the taliban demonstrated even if only for a week that when they have the will to be peaceful they can be the

afghan people have rejoice they're moving freely about the country to visit family and friends their training or even dancing in the streets but we're just at the beginning furthering the cause of peace will require serious work and sacrifice by all sides united states coalition the taliban the afghan government other afghan leaders and the afghan people themselves to maintain the momentum needed to reach a comprehensive inclusive and durable peace this agreement will mean nothing and today's good feelings will not last if we don't take concrete actions on commitments and promises that have been made when it comes down to it the future of afghanistan is for afghans to determine the us taliban deal creates the conditions for afghans to do just that here's our take here's our take on what

steps by the taliban will make this agreement a success. 1st keep your promises to cut ties with al qaeda and other terrorists keep up the fight to defeat isis welcome the profound really of all afghan citizens men and women urban and rural as a result of this past week's massive reduction in violence and dedicate yourselves continued to continued reductions it is this significant escalation of violence that will create the conditions for peace and the absence of it the conditions and the cause for failure all afghans deserve to live and prosper without fear. sit down with the afghan government other afghan political leaders and civil

society and start the difficult conversations on a political road map for your country exercise patience even when there is frustration honor the rich diversity of your country and make room for all views afghan governments have failed because they weren't sufficiently inclusive the afghan government of 2020 and indeed the afghanistan of 2020 is not the same as in 2001 embrace the historic progress obtained for women and girls and build on it for the benefit of all afghans the future of afghanistan ought to draw on the god given potential of every single person if you take these steps if you stay the course and remain committed to negotiations with the afghan government and other afghan partners we and the rest of the international community as some build here today stand ready to reciprocate i know there will be

a temptation to declare victory but victory victory for afghans will only be achieved when they can live in peace and prosper. victory for the united states will only be achieved when americans and our allies no longer have to fear a terrorist threat from afghanistan and we will do whatever it takes to protect our people the united states will press all sides to stay focused on the goal of a peaceful prosperous and sovereign afghanistan and afghanistan free of malign foreign interference for all voices and communities are heard and are represented this is the only way this is the only way a sustainable peace can be achieved and for all of us here and most importantly for the security of the american afghan people this must happen. thank you. mike the u.s. secretary of state speaking in his opening address before the signing certain

between the taliban and the u.s. perhaps the start of a long road to a long lasting peace let's bring in our correspondent osama bin. following events for the day and of course osama you know the secretary of state there hitting a target of optimism hope and partnership but also caution. well that's been the underlying feel here in doha that there is cautious optimism there is a hope obviously because this is. a country hosts put it is a historic and monumental occasion which has been years in the making but they do realize that there is a lot at stake after the signatures happened one week reduction in violence that one of the taliban delegates told us was a test for the taliban to shore their commitment now the $5000.00 troops $5000.00. to be released by the government of afghanistan is going to be the result for the americans to show you just heard secretary pompei are saying that there will be

a temptation to declare victory as has been the case that we've been seeing from various taliban leaders that they say that now after 19 years the united states is finally leaving afghanistan and they have been able to push for their terms in afghanistan the secretary saying that victory lap should only be taken when the people of afghanistan can live with prosperity and freedom and the western forces which have been part of the security you're going to stand can leave are going to stand in a state where they do not fear that they will be they will be coming into the tax form forces who are based in afghanistan and that is just in our country as we listened to the taliban statement being made let's just listen in nation of afghanistan is also good for the international community. and i congratulate everyone for that achievement. the islamic emirate of afghanistan where the united states the agreement that it has reached. we are committed to this agreement to

enforce it. also we want. as a political force. to maintain with its neighbors regional countries and international community we one positive relationship with all. the afghan nation. has been suffering for the past 4 decades we have suffered tremendously and i hope that. that. do with the withdrawal of all foreign forces from afghanistan that the afghan nation and there are the an islamic regime will take its relief and embark on a new prosperous life. all one and we will want to be attentive to the unity and prosperity of our country. for this reason.

i call an afghan factions. to our nestle and sincerely. fire this supplement after a strong islamic system come to negotiations and so that. for the islamic values we all come together for islamic values around afghanistan and for afghanistan and at the end i would like to take the opportunity to express my gratitude to the. qatari highness and i was sued to depict for minister and foreign minister abdul rahman and sunny. but he added could you officials. who during this long period of negotiations they supported the peace process and host and facilitated everything for us and took

another 5 or i would like to thank them and express my gratitude for that also. in terms of peace. and the pakistanis pakistan and. a full tank been far there that affords for their. work and assistance i would like to thank them for that i also would like to thank. you stan iran russia indonesia norway and other countries who supported the peace process i would like to thank them. and finally i hope that. in the early building of afghanistan all of them to participate and to take part in the future of afghanistan thank you so much leigh peace be upon you are. well loved. he's the head of protocol

for the taliban and would have been leading part of those negotiations with the americans under the guardianship should we say of the qatari as you've been hosting these talks are nearly 18 months now let's go back to our correspondent some of binge of it obviously we're dipping in and out of what's being said or sorry your hearing what we're hearing and certainly an opportunity really for the platitudes to be expressed from all stakeholders roughly it's what we expect of the taliban to say but the proof of the pudding is in the eating as they often say and the hard work begins shortly. absolutely there really work and the real test of does deal and any talk of peace in afghanistan will be seen after these papers a sign not before yes there has been a reduction of violence for a week but that does not mean a ceasefire per se there have been attacks radek attacks but yes there has been

reduction and that is something which the taliban is going to maintain according to the taliban they say that for one $135.00 days when the u.s. withdrawal is going to happen when the u.s. forces will be left just over $8000.00 troops in afghanistan they're going to maintain no attacks the united states will not attack them and that appears to be the formula for peace that these 2 sides who be at odds with each other can are going to lose and hold the fire and that is going to be the question that many of guns will be asking that how effective is that going to be we asked the afghan taliban spokesman who said that all of these attacks that have happened against the afghan forces against convoys of the afghan forces have happened in areas which are controlled by the taliban and according to the taliban that 70 percent of of the un is fine so it remains to be seen how the afghan government which the taliban does not see as a legitimate power will be negotiating with them how are they going to release these $5000.00 prisoners in

a matter of days are they going to come to terms with the term islamic emirate of afghanistan which has not been addressed so far and was a sticking point in the last 7 years but these are all questions that are going to be part of the interim afghan dialogue where afghan sides parties to the conflict are going to sit face to face and resolve these issues that is that next phase after the signing of this agreement but this is the underlining fact here is that after 19 years of war in afghanistan this is finally the case that the united states has signed an agreement with the taliban it will be withdrawing its troops and taliban have agreed that they will be coming to the table and speaking to. all sides other interesting details which have come out in these speeches is you heard my point talking about victory lap something that we've seen the taliban saying that they have withstood the presence of foreign forces they have in fact pushed them out is as one taliban leader put it to us and that's my point is saying that

not the case that victory will only come to run stand when the people of atlanta stand can live in peace and prosperity when foreign forces in afghanistan can leave and not fear that their afghan soil is going to be used for attacks against foreign countries of course we'll monitor what you have to say what our viewers are seeing right now is the chief u.s. negotiator. signing alongside his taliban counterparts there will be some time while these documents are assigned we'll keep on those pictures but also speak to bashar our senior political analyst who joins me here in the studio a huge milestone in a story that's been nearly 18 years in the making to say this is the end it is not the end it is yet just another chapter in what could be another very long story absolutely if we had a war process that's gone on for 18 years perhaps today is the beginning of another 18 years of a peace process. of course all assuming that this would actually hold and that's

actually a big if whether this will actually work because we are still in the process of violence reduction we are still process of confidence building measures we are still in the process of trusting one another and hence i think the american and the afghan the conditions on the taliban will continue to be that this is a performance based agreement that the taliban needs to abide by its commitments some promises as one player said if this thing is to go forward and yet i would say the following what i heard earlier so it's actually interesting because secretary pompei or. still scoring points he was not making points he was still scoring he was still in some kind of a diplomatic battle against the taliban almost like an imperial mystery of sorts said one izing about the future of afghanistan and this is a secular sort of a country that has been basically destroying afghanistan for the last 18 years

while on the other hand from the taliban spokesperson mr by a dollar we've hardly heard basically nothing it did not attempt to score points or even make points against the united states but he did underline that one thing that one thing that would be controversial and will be discussed at negotiating negotiated for the next several decades islamic values what are these are they what the taliban say they are or are they what president musharraf granny said are indeed of course that the optics of that signing ceremony happened as we as i was talking earlier one of the pictures coming out of kabul there are very senior figures all talking at the same time all garnering jockeying for position absolutely getting the point across to a captive audience more than likely right across afghanistan probably the u.s. as well well look i mean let's all be honest about this after 18 years of war

the united states has failed to defeat the taliban those that the unites us long called radical fanatic terrorists that are sponsoring radicals swath with american blood. left and defeated in fact they are the ones today signing an agreement with the united states has the super power the more powerful the united states along with the nato allies failed after 18 years to biskra defeat the taliban and i think all the optics today is to try to demystify this very simple fact that the taliban was left standing and today it is a partner in this process moving forward in afghanistan and that it will be an important player it would be the taliban not the united states in 5 years or 10 years that will be dictating things along perhaps other partners in afghanistan so as the unit since leaves the scene it's make sure as you were saying sir that the optics are that there is

a secretary of defense in kabul the secretary of state in doha the secretary general of nato is in kabul there are reaching some sort of and the standings although as president danny said just earlier he said we have no more agreements to reach between us because the afghan government and nato and the united states have signed all the possible agreements that within their reach and now it is the taliban's or all of this next 135 days is crucial it's interesting that many people around the periphery of speaking to us are al jazeera have talked about qatar's role in this quiet mediator. who have been persistent and yet patient they have succeeded where others have failed in at least getting people to talk to each other to get to this point. that shouldn't be ignored really even though we are in qatar this is doha as you said although we are in qatar and i

personally avoid as much as i can to talk or at least sing any praises of any salary all to salute but you cannot avoid but mention that the doha process has succeeded today that the doha process has basically. launched an important diplomatic process between the united states and the taliban and the afghan other parties after 18 years of war i would even go as far as saying that perhaps after or so the russian envoy met with hamas for example last week in doha that perhaps no how is once again relaunching itself some kind of a geneva of the east whereby various. worrying parties throughout the region and beyond the region can meet in doha can reach agreements because the how can be a hospitable place and it's doing that and i need to emphasize that today that 1000 day of blockade by saudi arabia united arab emirates.

hence its capacity cut out of scope bassett did to not only would stand up blockade steadfast and to improve and prosper economically but it's able to launch itself as a diplomatic vehicle as a place as a home for various worrying parties around the world to be able to reach a deal and today it was a milestone in that direction indeed to go alone of course will continue to unpick exactly what's been going on today let's cross over to the afghan capital to kabul our correspondent also joins us from of course are. the signing ceremony has taken place here between the taliban and the u.s. we also heard a show of speaking a little time ago alongside the u.n. stoltenberg. other senior officials including the u.s. defense secretary what did he have to say. well you are sort of trying to stay there reminding the world that yes ok the u.s.

and the taliban. reaching this agreement but afghan people have paid a very high price in this war and they must not be forgotten in this process he continued by saying that yes. he welcomes what is going on that that could lead to peace eventually here in afghanistan but he also sort of stressed that the taliban must respect that part of the deal must make it clear that they were severe entire lives with the groups like al qaeda he also said that the taliban must be more transparent about their relations with the neighboring countries he pointed out to pakistan and he also said that the taliban must abandon their trade in and cultivation of drugs he also then went on go is saying that the afghans were behind this that he was one of the 1st people to asked to reach some sort of deal with the

taliban even though we know that he was quite upset at the beginning when all this process started he wanted the taliban to agree to a permanent ceasefire before any kind of talks could take place that is something that the taliban rebuffed and still say that they won't reach any permanent ceasefire in the near future that would be only after the 4 in should leave the country but you had that show of force you had him flanked by the u.n. secretary. and they just secretary general and the u.s. secretary of defense and i think that was also a message to the taliban message that both meter and the u.s. are still standing by the afghan government they will still continue supporting it and it was still to continue supporting the afghan forces in their war against the taliban because that is still ongoing officially. at least for now so that those are words of messages coming out of fear but i 70 himself has been under

a lot of criticism lately not only him but also other political leaders in this country their bickering and many people worried that this agreement this day would happen and they would still not agreeing and is still not a new president for this country when the elections happened last september that is 5 months ago and people are worried what is going to happen among leadership i didn't agree i didn't read you read really do go to the interim afghan talks that i said in about 10 days do they have an agenda do they know exactly what they're supposed to ask for and they know what they read like you do you know what are the expectations these are questions that were a lot of afghans specially those who have been living here or maybe have left the country and come back and who have suffered and paid at all for this entire war with the taliban many afghans will tell you that for them that started before even

before $911.00 before it went to foreign troops arrived in this country they have been having this war years before that it goes back to the ninety's so they won't tell you they have paid a very heavy price they have been told more than once that they was a chance for peace they want to believe in it but they're also very worried that was going to be by that question really about you've been gauging public opinion while you've been in certainly the capital you've spoken to everyone and everyone really not just politicians but shopkeepers to bereaved wives to to widows. the general sense of what is being achieved today does it resonate in any shape or form because obviously the worries the afghans have had have been what nearly 4 decades in the making. yes absolutely and you know you get mixed feelings people tell you yes it would be good to have peace yes it

would be good for foreign troops to leave this country they say everything's we had foreigners in this country we had problems and they were also referred to when the russians were here so they're not just talking about the nato forces or the u.s. forces who are here they've been talking about what's unfolding over the past 40 years but they are extremely worried that you have a divide really between people living in urban areas who have enjoyed more and more freedoms who are becoming more and more open to the outside world and people living in rural areas but i mean this morning when we were leaving i want to tell really to come here i was looking around kabul and it looked like a normal day it was ongoing you know you had the people on the street trying to get their way through the hustle of the city and you didn't get any atmosphere that you know something special was as that to happen today that's because life is extremely

difficult for afghans and they have other priorities you to deal with they have to figure out how they're going to feed their family at the end of the day so that is their main priority but there is a little bit of trepidation for sure even though people i would say i got the feeling they were afraid of believing that something good will come out of this and also people are and you need today ali and it did both by the taliban and their own political leadership many would tell you no one is doing anything for us and now the americans are having a peace with the taliban maybe the leadership will get along once in a while or would manage to forge a way forward who is the is is speaking in our name who is protecting our goals who is protecting our interests that is a question many i have asked and really there is no answer at this. they think they've been victims really all parties each shot going after their own interests

and the afghan people have always been left behind i guess they do want to believe that maybe this time their whole peace will come true well of course we'll get more insight from you in kabul as the day progresses for the moment to hold or thank you there in kabul let's bring in our senior analyst here bashara back with us and of course it's what happens next we talk about this 135 days of negotiations and how to really touched on it people there don't know who's going to represent them when there's actually infighting already in the afghan government after a disputed presidential election again yes i mean look it's not easy after 18 years of war hatred dimona zation and some real violence committed especially by the taliban but also by the afghan forces and by american forces in the country so suffering is really all all around if you are within the country and it's going to take a long time to heal and the only way to stop the suffering is to start the healing

and the healing when you start by it through or conciliation not between the taliban and the united states but among the afghans themselves and we already have some sort of a blueprint. president musharraf finally did come up with a peace plan of sorts a 7 point if you will general 7 point you can see that today could be maybe the 1st one of them but there are important 7 points and there's an important 2 page document i suggest a lot of everyone around the world interested in this subject to read because this afghan president peace plan makes a lot of sense in the sense that afghanis are going to have to come together not only as represent the taliban and represented the government you think aboard but they're going to bring the society on board as well a wider jirga a few of you were of course all taishan of the. these the afghan civil society needs to come on board but also the region needs to come on board because how can

you guarantee peace within afghanistan with the bringing back stand on board because that's all admit pakistan was not exactly the most constructive. player in afghanistan like the united states it had also its strategic interests within the country but also i would say even india iran and others need to come on board and support the peace process whether it is in doha hour in kabul but certainly they need to support the peace process moving forward and there's a 3rd layer also mention in president of iran is peace plan that the international community $98.00 step in because the united states has in one statement says spent some 2 trillion dollars in afghanistan well guess what the afghan economy is $20000000000.00 that means the united states spent on its war in afghanistan $1000.00 times the g.d.p. of afghanistan hence clearly the united states among others. over its

western partners and others as well need to come in and support the peace process because the peace process needs to also bring some sort of or prosperity some sort of infrastructure to the country continue the buildup in afghanistan so i think there are some real prints if there is a will there is that way in advance that one does the with this move forward to finding a long term peace how much cooperation there will be between the u.s. and the taliban when there are still groups like eisel an al-qaeda operating in the country and who's going to tackle them is it going to be the afghan national army is it going to be the taliban are going to be a joint force and how it can questions raised how does that joint force or collaboration work in terms of not just fighting another group but the ins hello required to coordinate and make areas safe look clearly as secretary powell said and i don't agree with him often but clearly today is not 2001 of 2 of us what 20

is going to have to live in a way that makes sure not isis or not probably not al qaida will make home for itself in afghanistan there's no doubt about that afghanistan has suffered enough over the last 40 years why wars of others for its. land whether it's the soviets in $179.00 and after that whether it is the americans whether it's the pakistanis whoever they are i think now afghanistan deserves to live free of that foreign intervention within the country including by the actual card then isis and others making home for themselves and the country and i think the public has every interest to make sure that happens and by the way just to remind our viewers around the world that before 2001 the not the united states was giving the taliban money in order to fight the opium plantations if you will or warlords or at the same find the taliban was harboring al qaeda but these years

are over that taliban i think learned the lessons and. the taliban also suffered not bad they over the last 18 years and i think now there's a vested interest that the taliban not only not part of what i need but make sure that i then isis clears out of afghanistan that might involve violence against our guy than isis by the taliban because taliban 1st interest is afghanistan should be afghanistan ought to be. no longer of the kind of in a sort of a missionary. the. you know. mission of sorts but for that to happen they're also going to need to make sure that the united states or saw. implements its promises meaning to start withdrawing its troops and to make sure that eventually it does commit to afghan free or foreign forces having said all of that let me just summarize by saying it's going to be up to the afghanis and the afghanis even those who worked with the united states over the last several

years doesn't make them any less betray arctic there are a lot of people in encumber today that the taliban calls american puppet or american soldiers that are no less but throughout the taliban and they will not only deserve but their own their place in the next to reconciliation within their countries and that has to happen before anything else well will still continue to get your insights and your analysis as the day progresses you are watching al-jazeera and we are expecting my palm the secretary of state to be making a press statement shortly the podium is ready for him the flags you can see in the distance there at that press conference we're going live to hear what my pump has to say but let's cross over to your our u.s. correspondent allan fishies in washington d.c. allan it will be interesting to see how the u.s. plays this in terms of a policy success and how high the agenda will be when there are so many other

issues such as you might say democratic. caucuses being held and also the coronavirus how high this is on the agenda for the white house. well certainly don't trump is going to take this and run with it as an election issue you will see promises made promises can't then that is because he pledged during the election campaign in 2016 that he wanted to end america's involvement fillmore's you want alan i'm sorry to interrupt you we are going to come straight back to doha to listen to mike pump a welcome back to my bed let's just listen to the secretary of state. on. our. doorstep. nearly 19 years ago american barked at a noble mission to mightily pursue the terrorist perpetrators of september 11th

attacks and their evil supporters and to prevent such a heinous attack from ever happening again we've achieved great things who've ensured afghanistan is a haven for terrorists who can attack us and we have bettered the lives of afghan people for which we are very proud today political debate in afghanistan is free and vigorous today more than 9000000 students are old in school 39 percent of them are girls today more than 57 percent of afghans have access to basic health care compared to just 9 percent in 2002 and al qaeda. that day is a shadow of its former self we have decimated its leadership and now have the taliban agreeing that al qaeda must never again find safe haven in afghanistan but just as afghanistan today isn't the afghanistan of 2001 the world of 2020 isn't

the world of 2001 either today the united states faces national security challenges the weren't even imagined a few years ago from iran from china from russia and elsewhere president has recognized this new reality. he also saw that our sacrifices and gains in afghanistan and realised the hard truth that a comprehensive inclusive durable peace could only be secured by the afghan people themselves. today were realistic we are seizing the best opportunity for peace in a generation built on the hard work of our soldiers diplomats business men aid workers friends and the afghans themselves today were restrained we recognize america shouldn't fight in perpetuity in the graveyard of empires if we can help afghans forge peace and we have respect

we believe that the afghan people are ready to short their own course forward today following the 1st ever weeklong break in fighting in nearly 1000 years i'm proud to announce that the united states has secured separate commitments from the islamic republic of afghanistan and the taliban to hold negotiations for peace. very importantly the us tell about agreement entails a promise from the taliban that terrorists can never again operate from afghan soil we make no mistake the chapter of american history on the taliban is written in blood that killed many americans nato allies coalition partners and many afghans i'm just as angry over 911 as i was the day i watched al qaeda knock down the twin towers on t.v. our valiant service members intelligence warriors and world class different paths

who have served in khandahar and in helmand and all over afghanistan know firsthand what i mean they know what i mean exactly and we know exactly who we're dealing with if the taliban do not up hold their commitments president trump and his team will not hesitate to do what we must do to protect american lives. if on the other hand the taliban abide by their promises the united states will undertake a responsible conditions based troop withdrawal that withdrawal that withdrawal means that our men and women you know more will incur fewer risks our financial burden will be east and our brave troops will return home. this is a hopeful moment but it's only the beginning there's a great deal of hard work ahead on the diplomatic front finally let me speak directly to those invested in afghanistan 1st to america's

military and intelligence warriors i know that some of you may be on your 5th or 6th tours of duty maybe even more far from the comforts of home as the cia director it was my honor to join you in dealing blow after blow to this vicious enemy many of you wear black and silver bracelets and tribute to your brothers and sisters who died so that your countrymen might live in peace and security we will not squander what they and you have won through blood sweat and tears you've kept america safe alongside our allies and afghan partners you've helped give the people of afghanistan this opportunity for a brighter future 2nd tornado allies and other coalition partners who have sacrificed right alongside of us we will continue to look to you and to all

countries which support these agreements to help maintain this nascent peace who it's norway or australia or japan or any of our other valued friends and partners we know you share our cautious. afghanistan's neighbors including pakistan we thank you for your efforts in helping reach these historic agreements and make clear our expectation that you will continue to do your part to promote a peaceful and prosperous afghanistan so that the country and region can reap the benefits of lasting peace and to the afghan people this is your moment or so tortured your country since 1979 no more violence no more chaos listen listen to the voices of all young and old men and women from every region from every tribe from every half this is in from every religion factions will undoubtedly emerge that want to spoil our good work we must call them

out and reject their schemes for discord a close by urging all parties to heed the wisdom of the pursuit of peace that's found in scripture. whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies turn from evil and do good seek peace and pursue it today we've sought peace we will continue to pursue it thank you and i'm happy to take a few questions. thank you mr secretary i wanted to know exactly what will make you stop the withdrawal if the taliban's not respect their agreement to terry's and. commitments or is it the outcome of the negotiations interac frank afghan negotiation meaning that

the timeline for do complete withdrawal is 14 months day have to complete an agreement in for afghan agreement by then or just make progress in their negotiations thank you. so we've spent many months getting excuse me getting to where we are today. and there are a set of interlocking understandings implementation agreements that are clearly spelled out i am confident each party that's been part of this the the afghan government ourselves the taliban understands precisely the commitments that they have made and the response not only the response about the speed and magnitude of the withdrawal of not only american but coalition forces but the other elements of support that the united states provide we've made commitments to continue to provide that security assurances for the afghan government but it is our very

expectation that the taliban will live up to their commitments but no one no one should be surprised the united states will do whatever it takes to keep the american people safe and so to the extent the taliban fail to live up to their commitments president trump is as committed to peace as he is to ensuring that the american people never suffer an attack again from afghanistan. you know. he. i have a side that was you know i've done unless he moves and i thought if i took the human dodo that had he did win it to have that empathy one thing has that line of the media oh manager joe is mad at me. it just turns a very quick call and you see how do you assist did all of qatar. to the united states in various issues indonesian and beyond. so the nation of qatar has

been an enormously important partner to get us to this very moment when we've had bumps in the road they've helped smooth them out they've agreed to host a significant piece of the conversations that have taken place that have built out on the set of agreements that you see today we we appreciate that we thank them i had a chance to meet with the emir as well as with my counterpart today to thank them for the work that they have done as well as to make clear to them that we have every expectation they will continue to help us as we move along this path towards peace they have been great partners and getting to this point we're counting on them to continue their efforts to deliver for the afghan people this enormous opportunity of them that this moment brings thank you christine or heaney c.b.s. news. thank you mr secretary as secretary as far as everyone knows is in kabul signing a joint declaration with with president donny and i'm wondering if that means that

the u.s. that you recognize his election victory because the statement that came out from the states partment said it was noted but are you recognizing him as a present afghanistan going forward and my 2nd question is why did you feel the need to be here to be present at the signing today and why come all the way here and not sign the document yourself thank you the can was signed by the 2 gentlemen who had worked so diligently to execute it had worked tirelessly would sacrifice so much of their time and effort and who put their real energy into being on the ground to get us to this point it was appropriate that the 2 negotiators the 2 senior negotiators execute the document that they had delivered for the benefit of the afghan people. i wanted to be here because this is a historic moment this is a historic opportunity. i served as a soldier i know the sacrifices that so many of our young men and women have made in afghanistan and i am determined i am determined to reduce the risk to create

fewer young men and women who are on the 4th and 5th and 6th trip to afghanistan i'm determined to ensure that there are fewer young men and women sitting at walter reed there are fewer young men and women that never return home to their families and that i make will be determined to make sure that there is never again a terror attack from afghanistan and i think we now have said on the precipice of a real opportunity i want to make sure that i personally do everything that i can to help our state departments get off on the right foot as we begin the difficult diplomatic effort that can lead to this piece that we're seeking i talked for a moment about the changes the transitions that have taken place in afghanistan during our time there is a very different country than it was when the united states went there to seek revenge. for what happened in new york on 911 this country is very different we've done enormous work the american people have sacrificed a great deal not only the blood of our soldiers but resources time all of the work

that the intelligence teams our diplomats have done on the ground i wanted to be here to express my appreciation for all we have done over these decades and then to make sure that everyone understood how important this is to get this right to be here to communicate that the united states is committed to helping the afghans push this process forward. your 1st question really gets to the political process inside of afghanistan we're going to need every afghan to join in i talked about this in my remarks they're all going to have to be committed going after center something far bigger than being about themselves they've got to deliver for the afghan people the afghan people want peace you can see it if you saw the pictures christina from this week who glorious to watch have can people walking through the streets have been able to do that to see them dancing and celebrating peace the afghan people are thirsting for the very opportunity that we have now presented to them and every

afghan leader needs to look deep into their soul and deliver this peace for afghanistan it is time the opportunity is in front of us we now have commitments from the taliban to break with al qaeda this is historic they need to live up to those commitments they've made commitments to continue to reduce violence level they need to live up to those commitments when they do that they will find that there is opportunity in this place that the international community is demanding that afghanistan be a peaceful place and the afghan people were actually deserve the opportunity that has been created today and i know i wanted to be here to communicate that thank you all very much for being with me today. you're watching al-jazeera english live from doha pictures live from doha the u.s. secretary of state might pompei makes his we think one and only a press conference statement to the assembled press corps there as the u.s.

and taliban sign an understanding to reduce the violence between the 2 and also find a way forward for a long term peace deal for afghanistan to bring in all of the stakeholders both within afghanistan and surrounding it i was speaking to alan fischer our correspondent in washington d.c. just before mike pompei you spoke we talk about the fact that the president himself president drug will use this very much as a positive domestic policy decision a promise made and a promise kept. exactly my company was saying that this is a hopeful moment and who would have thought when the soviet tanks rolled across the border on christmas day in 1999 what happened there would still have echoes 20 years into the 21st century he's correct it is a truly historic moment as well donald trump has promised as he has done since 2016 that he's going to reduce troop numbers and america's involvement in foreign wars

that didn't work quite as well as you'd hoped in syria when he announced a troop withdrawal and then had to leave troops there because of the situation on the ground he will be hoping that that's not repeated here in afghanistan at the moment there's coming around $12000.00 u.s. service personnel in afghanistan the intention is within the 1st $135.00 days that number will be drawn down to somewhere in the region of 8600 but stopped for a moment to think 8600 compared to at the peak when the united states is somewhere in the region of 120000 service personnel inside the country there's been some concern expressed by democrats and also republicans and republicans have been saying look we've got to be careful with the taliban because they've made promises before and certainly might pompeo when he's been speaking both in the hall there in doha but also in the news conference he's saying that they are in turn walking

understanding so essentially the u.s. isn't going to start pulling troops out until the understand that the taliban is following those agreements that have been put in place what will concern some hardliners here in the united states and marwan picked up on this are the words of the taliban spokesman in doha and a number of occasions he used the word islamic but he did say it's important that we have a strong strong islamic system within with islamic values and add to that he wrote . to afghanistan not as the islamic republic of ghana stan but is the islamic emirate of afghanistan and that will certainly concern a number of hardliners here in the united states but i've been watching on twitter over the last 2 and there are a number of commentators who are concerned because they talk about 911 they talk about what they see are the atrocities committed by the taliban but while reading

them i'm reminded of what nelson mandela said to martin mcguinness of shin fein who is negotiating the peace process in northern ireland and mandela to commit sighed and said what you have to remember is you don't make peace with your friends you make peace with your enemies thanks a lot of course so we'll get more from you as the day progresses we get more reaction of course from politicians across the board in the u.s. but small bashara our senior political analyst and i think that let's just pick up and said and what was said by the taliban spokesperson and about this whole issue of the term islamic what afghanistan may be in why it's raising concerns not just in the u.s. but certainly also show media right now this is important at least publicly speaking but let's be clear about one thing america does not fight wars across the globe in order to establish some values towards some people of some sort it's not

about certain prosperity it's not about mission building and it's not certainly not about religious values the united states fought in afghanistan and it fort anywhere else over the last several decades where that is vietnam korea or what have you in order to establish its own international security in order for it to be secure in terms of its interest and its domination around the world and i think the idea of what happens almost on afghanis would be secondary i'll give you a few examples look at some of america's allies but of course. by hearsay in saudi arabia does the united states really debate what kind of muslim values there are in saudi arabia what what a lot of americans care for is for a journalist not to be butchered by his own government yes but in terms of the values in various islamic countries the united states does not really or is not preoccupied with that and i think moving forward they are not that set is not going to be preoccupied with this islamic value with that islam value in afghanistan it

will be preoccupied by security concerns indeed a so. they wouldn't be drawn on it by the journalist asked the question but the journalist asked what would it take for the united states to pull out of the agreement if it didn't quite go according to plan of the taliban didn't meet up to whatever the agreements were i found that's an interesting take because he completely dodged the bullet so happy to go there i thought it was a great question and i think there is no there is no answer for that to be honest because look as secretary pumper said in the beginning with a press conference we are realistic we are restrained these are the 2 words that are key for the administration today we are realistic because look it's been 18 years of war and i think president considering that the consensus in america to end the war the endless wars is turning an american loss in afghanistan into an

electoral defeat. assets because he will take this agreement and he will make a big deal out of it this coming year in order to win the next elections it's a big deal for him i think to finish one of america's endless wars but it would be in my view foolish for the united states and in my view of the united states will not really involve itself in a war in afghanistan for some muslim values going this way or the other way unfortunately for its afghani partners the united states now. isn't the mindset of leaving the only reason why it will get reinvolved itself in afghanistan and to do that not in land but by air is if finds it's just finally more i mean we have a very important 135 days from what you've seen and heard now what do you think most important take out will be for the next 135 days what needs to happen for you to think yes it's working but i think generally speaking it's fragile but i think

we've come a long long way after 2 years i think the afghanis both the government in kabul and the taliban are ready to move forward in some sort of a national reconciliation and now that america is or is about to be out of the way i think they're going to be quite interesting times for afghanis and hopefully we maybe were not optimistic but you have to be hopeful that they will reach some of the moment thanks very much for analysis from me on the other side of the break as we end this news hour live from doha we're going to show you this very important pictures a milestone in afghan history as. the u.s. representative signs a memorandum of understanding basically a peace deal with the taliban to bring peace normality to afghanistan and to move forward with a peace agreement and a peace process that will bring all afghan factions into that process we will have more analysis on this in algeria as we continue to be watching the news don't go

away we'll have more after the break. march on al-jazeera. up to their nation witness brings a new film this time from africa for international women's day a crucial day in the race to challenge donald trump when live across key u.s. states for a super tuesday studio b. on the script it brings a fresh approach to discussing contentious issues and finding common solutions as benjamin netanyahu prepares to go on trial for corruption israel heads into its 3rd election in less than a year the listening post 6 the world's media how they operate on the way they cover stories march on al-jazeera. al-jazeera goods beneath the waves with a team of women determined to save the dolphins we all share the same responsibility it is i think a project that made using

a variety of scientific techniques to the brain to study their behavior we can monitor them and for their vocal photos and behavior we're able to how they're adapting to their new environment women make science dolphin sanctuary on al-jazeera. there's a wave of sentiment around the world people actually want accountability from the people who are running their countries and i think often people's voices are not heard because they're just not part of the mainstream news narrative. obviously we cover big stories and report on the big events going on but we also tell the stories of people who generally don't have a voice i mean when i was a child my that's never be afraid to put a hand up not a question and i think that's what our syria really does we ask the question should people who should be accountable and also get people to give their view of what's going on. chinese authorities the putting those they say had committed a crime. but are they show trials or genuine confessions. can i when

a steel best to go. on al-jazeera. the son the taliban's on a deal seen as a major step towards ending the 18 year war in afghanistan. comes down to it the future of afghanistan is for afghans determine and open the door for a complete would draw all of us and nato troops. the rommany watching al-jazeera lines my headquarters here in doha also coming up turkey's president says that he'll not stop refugees from heading to europe as thousands more flock to the border with greece. malaysia's king appoints a new prime minister putting an end to a week long.