The Daily The Almost-Peace Deal
Mar 6, 2020
Mujib Mashal, a senior correspondent for The New York Times in Afghanistan, dives deep into the precarious peace deal between the U.S. and the Taliban. He shares insights from the signing ceremony in Doha, revealing the immediate resurgence of violence and the challenges of implementing such a fragile agreement. The emotional scars of conflict are explored through personal stories, highlighting the heavy burdens borne by Afghan soldiers. Mashal's firsthand accounts provide a sobering look at the complexities surrounding hope and peace in a historically turbulent region.
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Truce Visit
- Mujib Mashal recalls meeting a highway police commander during a flight.
- He later visited the commander during a temporary truce to understand the impact of peace on soldiers.
Highway Dangers
- The commander oversees a dangerous highway stretch where the Taliban plant bombs and attack convoys.
- He has lost more men fetching water than in direct fighting due to sniper attacks.
Young Soldiers' Scars
- Many young soldiers, some former child soldiers, are deeply affected by the war, bearing physical and emotional scars.
- Two brothers, whose father died clearing bombs, now serve and struggle to imagine peace.