Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan says he is encouraged by U.S. peace talks with Afghan Taliban insurgents…. that could pave the way for an end to the 17-year-old war.<br />For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…<br />Aram… tell us more…<br /><br />Well Mark…. Although Patrick Shanahan said he was encouraged by the talks, he said he had not yet been tasked with planning a full withdrawal of American troops.<br />He made the remarks in a brief exchange with reporters ahead of talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.<br /><br />SHANAHAN: "I'd say, really, the-, the-, the takeaway, right now: it's encouraging. And, we'll let Secretary Pompeo and the ambassador be the spokepersons for that."<br />REPORTER: "But, have you been tasked--, have you been tasked--?"<br />SHANAHAN: "All right, I'm going to run over here. All right?"<br />REPORTER: "Have you been tasked to prepare for a full withdrawal or no?"<br />SHANAHAN: "I have not."<br /><br />Taliban officials said U.S. negotiators on Saturday agreed on a draft peace pact setting out the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan within 18 months.<br />U.S. officials say a timeline has not yet been discussed, but Shanahan those negotiations might happen sometime this week.<br />U.S. and Taliban officials have been holding talks in Qatar over the weekend to try and hammer out a deal. <br />The U.S. special envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, says both sides have agreed in principle to the framework of a deal that could pave the way for peace talks in Kabul.<br />However no details have yet been announced. <br />
