Taliban deal must ensure Afghanistan not 'sanctuary' for extremists: top US general

The Taliban must ensure that Afghanistan does not become a sanctuary for extremists before the United States withdraws troops, the top US general said Wednesday.

"I'm not using the 'withdrawal' word right now," General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters as the United States negotiated with the militants in Qatar.

"I'm using we're going to make sure that Afghanistan is not a sanctuary, and we're going to try to have an effort to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan." He said any deal should also lead to dialogue between the Taliban and the Afghan government for a broader peace agreement.

Defence Secretary Mark Esper, standing next to him, also said the deal must guarantee that Afghanistan "is no longer a safe haven for terrorists to attack the United States."