US President Donald Trump confirmed his phone talks with the Taliban leader. Thus, he became the first US president to ever negotiate with the leader of the group responsible for the deaths of thousands of American soldiers in about 19 years of war in Afghanistan, the Associated Press reported. 

Trump said the US shares interests with the Taliban.

“We had a very good conversation with the leader of the Taliban today, and they’re looking to get this ended, and we’re looking to get it ended. I think we all have a very common interest,” Trump said. “We had, actually, a very good talk with the leader of the Taliban.”

The US President also noted that this phone talk, which the Taliban claimed lasted 35 minutes, was not the first one. Asked if Tuesday was his first conversation with a leader of the Taliban, Trump said, “I don’t want to say that.”