Reports from Washington indicate that the US will announce a partial troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in the next few days. The withdrawal of 4,000 troops is likely to be spread over several months. The decision comes in the wake of talks with the Taliban now taking place in Doha, Qatar. US chief negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad had several rounds of negotiations with Taliban leaders in Doha last week, though there is currently a pause in talks following deadly attacks by the Taliban. On Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the decision to withdraw about 4,000 troops would be made regardless of whether a peace deal was reached with the Taliban. The decision is creating an impression that the reduction in US troop levels is consistent with America’s grand strategy for the area. Secondly, the move is designed to put pressure on the Afghan government to end its opposition to any deal that is reached with the Taliban. The US wants to convey a clear message: No matter what, Washington wants to end its military involvement in Afghanistan, and Kabul should see the writing on the wall. Thirdly, Washington believes that its decision will create a conducive environment for a peace agreement that will have both the Afghan government and the Taliban on board. Currently, there are about 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan. After the partial withdrawal, there will be about 10,000 soldiers left in the country. The commander of US forces in Afghanistan, Gen. Scott Miller, has assured Washington that the withdrawal will not impact the capacity of American forces to launch counterinsurgency attacks or to train Afghan forces. But there are disturbing factors that will weigh heavily on the minds of senior military officers. The training of Afghan forces has not really delivered. The desertion rate from the Afghan military has been rising. The level of devotion to duty has been far from satisfactory. There is considerable disappointment in the US military over the ability of the Afghan Army to withstand the pressure of Taliban attacks across the country. Because it is an unwinnable war, the US has embarked on a strategy of reconciliation, though the realization has come late in the day. The “Afghanistan papers” — secret memos obtained and published by The Washington Post earlier this month — shed light on how determined efforts were made at the highest levels of the US leadership to hide the facts of the conflict from the American public. The papers also reveal how ignorant American civilian and military leaders were on the objectives of the US involvement in Afghanistan after the toppling of the Taliban government in late 2001. The partial withdrawal of forces could pave the way for a sustainable peace in the war-ravaged country. All stakeholders should ensure that the opportunity is not wasted. Rustam Shah Mohmand Another factor is contributing to the US desire to begin withdrawing troops: President Donald Trump is facing impeachment. These are difficult times for a beleaguered Trump, and he would like to show a tangible achievement in ending a long war that has cost the US $1.5 trillion. The conflict has caused more than 3,000 US military deaths; another 4,000 US military contractors have perished in the 18-year war. In addition, more than 25,000 soldiers have been seriously wounded. These realities are forcing Washington to review its strategy and seek an exit that does not look like a military defeat. The Taliban is speaking from a position of strength. But it would be advised to go along with any deal that promises an end to the foreign military presence in a stipulated period of time with guarantees from regional countries. Hopefully, the draft that was agreed between the Taliban and US negotiators in Doha in September will be revived and implemented. Washington will have to adopt a tough stance toward the Afghan government, which wants a continuance of the status quo because that ensures its power and privileges. The issue of a cease-fire will not be easy to handle. Taliban leaders in Doha will perhaps wish to go along with a phased cease-fire in areas vacated by US forces. But Taliban supremo Haibatullah Akhunzada is not fully convinced about the need for a cease-fire at all. The other formidable challenge is the formation of an interim government that includes the Taliban. Inevitably, the mechanism of a Loya Jirga, or Grand Assembly, will have to be invoked to resolve these complex issues. The partial withdrawal of forces could pave the way for a sustainable peace in the war-ravaged country. All stakeholders should ensure that the opportunity is not wasted. Rustam Shah Mohmand is a specialist in Afghan and Central Asian affairs, and was Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan. Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News" point-of-view