Joint Declaration between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States of America

for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, a member of the United Nations and recognized by the United 

States and the international community as a sovereign state under international law, and the United States 

of America are committed to working together to reach a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement 

that ends the war in Afghanistan for the benefit of all Afghans and contributes to regional stability and 

global security. A comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement will include four parts: 1) guarantees 

to prevent the use of Afghan soil by any international terrorist groups or individuals against the security 

of the United States and its allies, 2) a timeline for the withdrawal of all U.S. and Coalition forces from 

Afghanistan, 3) a political settlement resulting from intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations between the 

Taliban and an inclusive negotiating team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and 4) a permanent and 

comprehensive ceasefire. These four parts are interrelated and interdependent. Pursuit of peace after 

long years of fighting reflects the goal of all parties who seek a sovereign, unified Afghanistan at peace 

with itself and its neighbors.

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States have partnered closely since 2001 to respond 

to threats to international peace and security and help the Afghan people chart a secure, democratic and 

prosperous future. The two countries are committed to their longstanding relationship and their 

investments in building the Afghan institutions necessary to establish democratic norms, protect and 

preserve the unity of the country, and promote social and economic advancements and the rights of 

citizens. The commitments set out here are made possible by these shared achievements. Afghan and 

U.S. security forces share a special bond forged during many years of tremendous sacrifice and courage. 

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the people of Afghanistan reaffirm their support for peace and 

their willingness to negotiate an end to this war. 

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan welcomes the Reduction in Violence period and takes note of the

U.S.-Taliban agreement, an important step toward ending the war. The U.S-Taliban agreement paves the 

way for intra-Afghan negotiations on a political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. 

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan reaffirms its readiness to participate in such negotiations and its 

readiness to conclude a ceasefire with the Taliban. 

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan furthermore reaffirms its ongoing commitment to prevent any 

international terrorist groups or individuals, including al-Qa’ida and ISIS-K, from using Afghan soil to 

threaten the security of the United States, its allies and other countries. To accelerate the pursuit of peace, 

the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan confirms its support for the phased withdrawal of U.S. and Coalition 

forces subject to the Taliban’s fulfillment of its commitments under the U.S.-Taliban agreement and any 

agreement resulting from intra-Afghan negotiations. 
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States therefore have made the following 

commitments: 

PART ONE

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States recognize that al-Qa’ida, ISIS-K and other 

international terrorist groups or individuals continue to use Afghan soil to recruit members, raise funds, 

train adherents and plan and attempt to conduct attacks that threaten the security of the United States, its 

allies, and Afghanistan. To address this continuing terrorist threat, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 

and the United States will continue to take the following steps to defeat al-Qa’ida, its affiliates, and other 

international terrorist groups or individuals:

1. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan reaffirms its continued commitment not to cooperate with or 

permit international terrorist groups or individuals to recruit, train, raise funds (including through 

the production or distribution of narcotics), transit Afghanistan or misuse its internationallyrecognized travel documents, or conduct other support activities in Afghanistan, and will not host 

them. 

2. The United States re-affirms its commitments regarding support for the Afghan security forces 

and other government institutions, including through ongoing efforts to enhance the ability of 

Afghan security forces to deter and respond to internal and external threats, consistent with its 

commitments under existing security agreements between the two governments. This 

commitment includes support to Afghan security forces to prevent al-Qa’ida, ISIS-K, and other

international terrorist groups or individuals from using Afghan soil to threaten the United States

and its allies.

3. The United States re-affirms its readiness to continue to conduct military operations in 

Afghanistan with the consent of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in order to disrupt and 

degrade efforts by al-Qa’ida, ISIS-K, and other international terrorist groups or individuals to 

carry out attacks against the United States or its allies, consistent with its commitments under 

existing security agreements between the two governments and with the existing understanding 

that U.S. counterterrorism operations are intended to complement and support Afghan security 

forces’ counterterrorism operations, with full respect for Afghan sovereignty and full regard for 

the safety and security of the Afghan people and the protection of civilians.

4. The United States commits to facilitate discussions between Afghanistan and Pakistan to work 

out arrangements to ensure neither country’s security is threatened by actions from the territory of 

the other side. 

PART TWO

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States have consulted extensively on U.S. and 

Coalition force levels and the military activities required to achieve the foregoing commitments including 

through support to Afghan security and defense forces. Subject to the Taliban’s fulfillment of its 

commitments under the U.S.-Taliban agreement, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the United States, 

and the Coalition jointly assess that the current levels of military forces are no longer necessary to achieve 
security objectives; since 2014, Afghan security forces have been in the lead for providing security and 

have increased their effectiveness. As such, the parties commit to take the following measures:

1. The United States will reduce the number of U.S. military forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 and 

implement other commitments in the U.S.-Taliban agreement within 135 days of the 

announcement of this joint declaration and the U.S.-Taliban agreement, and will work with its 

allies and the Coalition to reduce proportionally the number of Coalition forces in Afghanistan 

over an equivalent period, subject to the Taliban’s fulfillment of its commitments under the U.S.-

Taliban agreement.

2. Consistent with the joint assessment and determination between the United States and the Islamic 

Republic of Afghanistan, the United States, its allies, and the Coalition will complete the 

withdrawal of their remaining forces from Afghanistan within 14 months following the 

announcement of this joint declaration and the U.S.-Taliban agreement, and will withdraw all 

their forces from remaining bases, subject to the Taliban’s fulfillment of its commitments under 

the U.S.-Taliban agreement.

3. The United States re-affirms its commitment to seek funds on a yearly basis that support the 

training, equipping, advising and sustaining of Afghan security forces, so that Afghanistan can 

independently secure and defend itself against internal and external threats. 

4. To create the conditions for reaching a political settlement and achieving a permanent, sustainable 

ceasefire, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will participate in a U.S.-facilitated discussion

with Taliban representatives on confidence building measures, to include determining the 

feasibility of releasing significant numbers of prisoners on both sides. The United States and 

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will seek the assistance of the ICRC to support this discussion.

5. With the start of intra-Afghan negotiations, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan commits to start 

diplomatic engagement with members of the UN Security Council to remove members of the 

Taliban from the sanctions list with the aim of achieving this objective by May 29, 2020, and in 

any case no later than 30 days after finalizing a framework agreement and a permanent and 

comprehensive ceasefire.

PART THREE

1. The United States will request the recognition and endorsement of the UN Security Council for 

this agreement and related arrangements.

2. The United States and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan are committed to continue positive 

relations, including economic cooperation for reconstruction. 

3. The United States will refrain from the threat or the use of force against the territorial integrity or 

political independence of Afghanistan or intervening in its domestic affairs.

4. The United States will continue to work to build regional and international consensus to support 

the ongoing effort to achieve a political settlement to the principal conflict in Afghanistan.