WEBVTT 00:02.033 --> 00:04.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: The latest round of talks between the United States and the Taliban concluded 00:04.300 --> 00:06.366 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% yesterday in Qatar. 00:06.366 --> 00:10.800 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% It is the highest-level engagement ever between the adversaries, now nearing the end of a 00:11.866 --> 00:14.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% second decade of fighting in Afghanistan. 00:14.166 --> 00:18.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% In a moment, we will hear the Afghan government's perspective on the talks. 00:18.100 --> 00:23.100 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% But, first, videographer Sebastian Rich recently sent us exclusive video of American and Afghan 00:24.733 --> 00:27.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% operations in Southern Afghanistan. 00:27.766 --> 00:32.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And Nick Schifrin reports on how both sides are trying to use battlefield gains to force 00:33.533 --> 00:35.600 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% peacemaking concessions. 00:35.600 --> 00:39.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: In the 19th year of the Afghan war, Taliban snipers don't miss by very much. 00:41.833 --> 00:43.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% MAN: One of the rounds, like, hit one, two. 00:43.966 --> 00:45.500 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% And it just went through. 00:45.500 --> 00:49.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I was just sitting right here, and they flew right by my head. 00:49.200 --> 00:53.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: But when these U.S. Marine advisers come under fire in Helmand, the response 00:53.733 --> 00:58.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% is organized, mapped out on an iPad, and aimed on this old Russian tank by Afghan soldiers. 01:05.133 --> 01:09.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% The Taliban sniper was hit, and, afterward, the Afghan commander provided details to the 01:09.833 --> 01:12.066 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% U.S. Marine captain. 01:12.066 --> 01:17.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% These days, the Afghan army does the majority of the fighting and dying. 01:19.900 --> 01:24.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Since 2015, the Afghan government says 28,000 Afghan soldiers and police have died. 01:26.833 --> 01:30.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% In the same time, the U.S. says 62 American service members have died. 01:30.766 --> 01:35.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The U.S. trains Afghan forces, provides them logistics and intelligence, and supports them 01:37.433 --> 01:41.166 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% with weapons they don't have, like long-range artillery. 01:41.166 --> 01:46.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% As weapons are fired outside, inside the nearby joint operations command, U.S. Marines track 01:48.166 --> 01:50.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% possible fighters with drones, or UAVs. 01:50.333 --> 01:52.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% MAN: This is the guy who had the cross-body weapon. 01:52.833 --> 01:56.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: This rare footage of aerial surveillance, where when nearly 40 Marines 01:56.400 --> 02:01.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and intelligence officers work with drone, helicopter and aircraft pilots, was screened 02:02.566 --> 02:04.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and cleared by the U.S. Marine unit. 02:04.166 --> 02:05.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% MAN: This guy came out of the L-shaped building with a long rifle. 02:05.933 --> 02:08.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: They try and minimize civilian casualties. 02:08.266 --> 02:11.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% And they look at video we couldn't film on the equivalent of a DVR. 02:11.866 --> 02:13.566 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% MAN: Oh, you can see it. 02:13.566 --> 02:16.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Yes, you can see the barrel actually poking out on his left side. 02:16.333 --> 02:18.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% NICK SCHIFRIN: And stay in communication with a drone pilot. 02:18.766 --> 02:21.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% MAN: He has now gone internal to our L-shaped building. 02:21.600 --> 02:26.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: On this day, for six hours, they track a man the Marines say was carrying 02:26.300 --> 02:30.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% a weapon out of a mosque and likely preparing another attack, walking into this building. 02:30.966 --> 02:34.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And after the military says it checked its intelligence and acquired legal authorization, 02:34.833 --> 02:38.033 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% the drone films as jets strike. 02:38.033 --> 02:40.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% After, the camera zooms in on men trying to escape. 02:40.300 --> 02:44.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% A few seconds later, gunfire from an aircraft kills them too. 02:44.566 --> 02:46.633 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% BRIG GEN. 02:46.633 --> 02:49.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DALE ALFORD, U.S. Marine Corps: We're looking through a camera off of a UAV, and it's pretty 02:49.966 --> 02:53.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% up and close personal when you see those missiles hit human beings. 02:53.966 --> 02:57.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: This is Brigadier General Dale Alford's third deployment to Afghanistan. 02:57.966 --> 03:02.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% He has seen this war transform from a light U.S. footprint, to a surge of U.S. forces, 03:04.766 --> 03:07.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to this deployment, where his unit has suffered zero casualties. 03:07.333 --> 03:09.366 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% BRIG GEN. 03:09.366 --> 03:13.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DALE ALFORD: Marines aren't dying, and this - - and that is the natural evolution of this 03:14.866 --> 03:16.866 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% war. 03:16.866 --> 03:20.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But there's still a lot of Afghan soldiers and policeman that are dying on a daily basis, 03:22.933 --> 03:26.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and my job is to try to make less of that, and the way we do that is, we take out the 03:26.333 --> 03:28.300 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% bad guys. 03:28.300 --> 03:30.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: Over the last year, the Taliban have increased the number of high-profile 03:30.533 --> 03:32.533 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% attacks. 03:32.533 --> 03:36.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% A military inspector general says the Taliban control or contest nearly half the country, 03:37.600 --> 03:39.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% hoping to obtain leverage in peace talks. 03:39.366 --> 03:41.400 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% BRIG GEN. 03:41.400 --> 03:43.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DALE ALFORD: Our mission is to help the Afghan army and police force put military pressure 03:43.633 --> 03:48.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% on the Taliban to bring them to the table, to come to some kind of peace agreement. 03:49.366 --> 03:51.500 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% Every war must end. 03:51.500 --> 03:54.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: This war's end is being negotiated by Special Representative for Afghanistan 03:54.333 --> 03:57.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Zalmay Khalilzad, coordinating closely with the military. 03:57.966 --> 04:02.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Yesterday, he concluded the longest-ever negotiation round with the Taliban, including the group's 04:02.900 --> 04:05.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% recently released deputy leader. 04:05.533 --> 04:10.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Senior U.S. officials tell "PBS NewsHour" the two sides began to draft agreements on 04:10.333 --> 04:14.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the Taliban's preventing Afghanistan from being used by international terrorists. 04:14.533 --> 04:18.333 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% But the Taliban haven't yet agreed to renounce al-Qaida. 04:18.333 --> 04:22.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And the talks produced a -- quote -- "sense of convergence" on U.S. troop withdrawal, 04:22.400 --> 04:25.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% but the U.S. has not yet committed to a timeline. 04:25.733 --> 04:30.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Khalilzad is under pressure to achieve major progress by this summer's planned election. 04:30.133 --> 04:32.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% He spoke in Washington in early February: 04:32.500 --> 04:35.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% ZALMAY KHALILZAD, U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan: It will be better for Afghanistan if we could 04:35.133 --> 04:39.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% get a peace agreement before the election, which is scheduled in July. 04:39.500 --> 04:44.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: But the two sides have not agreed on a Taliban cease-fire or the Taliban's 04:44.233 --> 04:48.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% meeting directly with the Afghan government, which Khalilzad called the most important, 04:48.800 --> 04:50.833 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% and difficult stage. 04:50.833 --> 04:54.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ZALMAY KHALILZAD: We have offered to do what we can to be helpful, if our help is needed. 04:56.033 --> 05:00.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% But it's for the Afghans to decide. 05:00.133 --> 05:02.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It's for the Afghans to have the conversations. 05:02.533 --> 05:05.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% It's for the Afghans to negotiate with each other. 05:05.266 --> 05:07.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It is for the Afghans to accept each other. 05:07.900 --> 05:12.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: But, so far, the Taliban refuse to accept even talking directly with the Afghan 05:14.900 --> 05:17.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% government, and the Afghan government is concerned about Khalilzad's pace. 05:17.066 --> 05:21.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% On Monday, before the latest round of talks ended, I spoke with Nader Nadery, a senior 05:21.566 --> 05:24.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% adviser to President Ashraf Ghani. 05:24.033 --> 05:28.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% What level of input has President Ghani or your government in general had in Ambassador 05:30.100 --> 05:32.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Khalilzad's talks with the Taliban? 05:32.133 --> 05:34.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NADER NADERY, Senior Adviser to Afghan President: Our level of input would -- we would like 05:34.733 --> 05:39.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to see increased and expanded the sequence of the different processes, and also we want 05:42.066 --> 05:46.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% to see that the different elements, which is the withdrawal of the troops, reduction 05:48.533 --> 05:51.700 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% of the troops, not using Afghanistan or Taliban, cutting their ties with the terrorist groups, 05:53.633 --> 05:57.033 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% then the negotiation with Afghan government and cease-fire. 05:57.033 --> 06:02.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% All of these are interlinked and the Afghan government wants to see, being at the center 06:03.633 --> 06:07.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% of the table, backed and helped and facilitated by the United States. 06:07.200 --> 06:11.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% And I think Ambassador Khalilzad is walking toward that direction. 06:11.433 --> 06:13.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: Right now, you're not at the center of the table. 06:13.666 --> 06:15.700 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% You're not even at the table. 06:15.700 --> 06:17.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% These talks are between the United States, as you said, and the Taliban. 06:17.966 --> 06:20.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And you said you would like our input expanded. 06:20.100 --> 06:25.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I talk to a lot of people in Kabul who are frustrated with Ambassador Khalilzad. 06:27.100 --> 06:31.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Is the government receiving enough information about what he is talking to the Taliban about? 06:31.200 --> 06:33.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% NADER NADERY: I wouldn't point to the person. 06:33.633 --> 06:38.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The process is designed as such where the government at this stage is not at the center 06:40.666 --> 06:42.033 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% of the table. 06:42.033 --> 06:43.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% And that's what we are working. 06:43.433 --> 06:47.033 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Ambassador Khalilzad is continually brief the president. 06:47.033 --> 06:52.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We want to see that, not only briefing, but also much more of a contribution and discussion 06:52.000 --> 06:54.033 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% on the substance of the process. 06:54.033 --> 06:59.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The United States shall and I think it has the moral authority and the political ability 07:01.366 --> 07:06.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to press the Taliban to preserve the centrality of Afghan constitution or the space that's 07:07.066 --> 07:09.100 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% being created. 07:09.100 --> 07:12.666 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% NICK SCHIFRIN: And do you believe that the U.S. is pressing the Taliban to preserve the 07:12.666 --> 07:14.700 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% constitution of the Taliban? 07:14.700 --> 07:19.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NADER NADERY: At this stage, the United States, it has interests and it has values, but it 07:20.433 --> 07:23.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% will leave it to Afghan people to define what they want. 07:23.633 --> 07:28.633 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And we, as Afghan people, we want to keep the rules of the game in political power preserved, 07:31.066 --> 07:34.566 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% and that is through the constitution and through preservation and strengthening to have the 07:34.566 --> 07:36.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% democratic process we have. 07:36.766 --> 07:41.766 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% If we don't preserve that, civil war will return back. 07:43.800 --> 07:46.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Now, we say we will advocate, we will fight for those values, including women's participation 07:48.400 --> 07:50.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and equal right in the public administration and in society. 07:50.666 --> 07:54.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: President Trump has explained that he wants to withdraw from Afghanistan. 07:54.266 --> 07:59.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Ambassador Khalilzad has talked about needing to have progress, major progress by the summer. 08:01.333 --> 08:04.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Are you worried that U.S., as you put it, will not stand with you when it comes to defending 08:04.466 --> 08:07.400 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% the constitution, in order to make a deal quickly? 08:07.400 --> 08:10.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% NADER NADERY: That's a major fear. 08:10.533 --> 08:15.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% And there is a level of anxiety, when we see that there is a rush. 08:16.966 --> 08:20.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% We do understand and we feel the sense of urgency. 08:20.800 --> 08:25.033 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% We have the sense of urgency, as the people of Afghanistan. 08:25.033 --> 08:26.600 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% We want this war to end. 08:26.600 --> 08:29.300 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% We want the guns to be silent. 08:29.300 --> 08:34.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But silencing the guns shall not be in a way that is temporary silence. 08:36.233 --> 08:40.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We want it to be carefully done in a design of an agreement that will result in a proud 08:43.433 --> 08:48.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% moment both for the United States and for Afghans that, when the United States looks 08:48.366 --> 08:53.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% back to see 17 years of blood and treasure, this is the peace that we have brought in 08:54.400 --> 08:56.700 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% that country and in that region. 08:56.700 --> 09:01.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We're indebted, as a nation, to the sacrifices the U.S. people have given to us. 09:03.733 --> 09:07.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: You used the word anxiety when it comes to Ambassador Khalilzad's talks. 09:09.066 --> 09:11.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Has that anxiety increased since these talks began? 09:11.800 --> 09:16.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NADER NADERY: There's no anxiety about the notion of the talk itself and Zalmay Khalilzad's 09:17.733 --> 09:20.000 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% discussion and engagement. 09:20.000 --> 09:24.400 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% We want to see this war end, the true peace discussion. 09:24.400 --> 09:29.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But the anxiety is on the pace of it and the speed of it that distracts all of us from 09:32.900 --> 09:37.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% focusing on the substance and content of the peace agreement, because a speeded process, 09:39.866 --> 09:43.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% a rushed process will change the rules of the game, will reset everything, and, therefore, 09:44.900 --> 09:47.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% will be an invitation for civil war. 09:47.400 --> 09:49.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% That's where people are worried. 09:49.433 --> 09:54.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: Is the Afghan government concerned that the U.S. will ask President Ghani to 09:54.000 --> 09:59.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% essentially step down, so that the U.S. can create an interim government to allow the 10:00.266 --> 10:02.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Taliban in as a part of the peace deal? 10:02.300 --> 10:06.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NADER NADERY: Ordinary Afghans across the country want to see their country political 10:06.466 --> 10:11.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% system through a model of election continue. 10:12.833 --> 10:16.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And people need to preserve and respect that wish. 10:16.133 --> 10:21.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And that's why the Afghan government is insisting on keeping the election and focus on an election 10:23.633 --> 10:25.766 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% continued. 10:25.766 --> 10:28.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: Nader Nadery, senior adviser to President Ashraf Ghani and chairman of 10:28.100 --> 10:30.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% the equivalent of Afghan's civil service, thank you very much. 10:30.466 --> 10:31.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% NADER NADERY: Thank you very much. 10:31.500 --> 10:32.033 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% Thank you for having me.