U.S. Secretary of State Mark Esper commented on negotiations between the U.S. and Taliban confirming that “there is a reduction in violence period [to start], and then we have to consider whether or not to move forward with a peace agreement… there will be a reduction to a certain number over time, 8,600. And then from there, it's – actually from the beginning it's all conditions-based”. On 18 February, Afghanistan’s acting minister of interior confirmed that a week-long “RIV (reduction in violence) will begin in the next five days, which will be based on the negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban”.