Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced that the United States and the Taliban have agreed to a one-week “reduction in violence.”

The short-term measure is a significant step in negotiations with the Taliban that may end in U.S. troop withdrawals from the beleaguered country. The U.S. has said it would pull some forces from the country if the Taliban reduces violence. Esper announced the temporary arrangement at a NATO conference in Brussels on Thursday.

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