<p>A fresh round of US- Taliban peace talks began today in Doha, Qatar, with officials describing it as the “most crucial” phase of negotiations.</p>
<p>Senior officials said a peace agreement could be expected at the end of the eighth round of talks, potentially before August 13.</p>
<p>In a tweet, Zalmay Khalilzad, the US peace envoy for Afghanistan, wrote, “just got to Doha to resume talks with the Taliban. We are pursuing a peace agreement not a withdrawal agreement.”</p>
<p>“A peace agreement that enables withdrawal. Our (US) presence in Afghanistan is conditions-based, and any withdrawal will be conditions based,” he added.</p>
<p>There are currently around 20,000 foreign troops, mostly American, in Afghanistan, to train, assist and advise Afghan forces.</p>
<p>“The issue of forces withdrawal has prolonged the peace talks and delayed the deal,” a senior Taliban commander told Reuters.</p>
<p>Despite the peace talks, fighting in Afghanistan has not subsided. Over 1,500 civilians were killed and injured in July, according to a statement by the United Nations of Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>Read more <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-afghanistan/fresh-round-of-u-s-ta…">here</a>. </p>
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