Afghan government and Taliban representatives reached a preliminary agreement to press on with peace talks, which is their first written agreement in 19 years of war, Reuters reports.

The agreement paves the way forward for further discussion but is considered a major breakthrough because it will allow negotiators to move on to more substantive issues, including talks on a ceasefire.

“The procedure including its preamble of the negotiation has been finalised and from now on, the negotiation will begin on the agenda,” Nader Nadery, a member of the Afghan government’s negotiating team, told Reuters. The Taliban spokesman confirmed the same on Twitter.