US wants Taliban to announce six-month ceasefire

A Pakistani newspaper reported that the US wanted the Taliban to announce a six-month ceasefire, join the national unity government that is to be installed in Afghanistan in future and become part of the Afghan political system.
In return, Taliban wanted the US to release all their prisoners, lift ban on movement of their leaders from blacklist and announce a deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan, The News reported citing a source close to militants.
The source said that the Taliban would like to oblige Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan but it would not be an easy job to announce a ceasefire at the moment.
Taliban sources said they could announce a ceasefire if these countries become the guarantors and the future caretaker government is given to someone nominated by Taliban.
The paper said that Taliban were represented in the meeting with US by a five-member delegation from Qatar and four senior leaders from Afghanistan.
It said that the peace talks between the US and the Taliban will continue for three days and that the next round of talks would take place in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday his country helped in the dialogue between Taliban and the US in Abu Dhabi.
“Let us pray that this leads to peace and ends almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people. Pakistan will be doing everything within its power to further the peace process,” Khan said on Twitter.
The News reported that US wanted Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to use their influence on Taliban to soften their demands. It said that top US officials during their recent meetings with Pakistani authorities have offered to help it get financial package from the International Monetary Fund in case it convinced the Taliban on softening their demands.