The United States has begun withdrawing a limited number of troops from Afghanistan. The limited withdrawal is in line with the recently signed deal between the US and the Taliban reached earlier in the month.
The agreement stipulates that the US begin the limited withdrawal from Afghanistan where US Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) have supported the Afghani government for over 18 years against the Taliban. Also, it makes the beginning of the conditions-based reduction of forces to 8,600 over 135 days. At least 12,000 US troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan.
The drawdown comes as ISIS-K claimed that its fighters carried out an artillery attack during the inauguration of President Ashraf Ghani. As such, the withdrawal is conditional and the US would retain all the military means and authorities to accomplish our objectives – including conducting counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda and ISIS-K and providing support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.
According to the agreement signed in Qatar, all foreign troops will withdraw from Afghanistan in 14 months, in return for various security commitments from the Taliban. Afghanistan’s government was not a party to the talks, but intra-Afghan negotiations are due to begin on March 10.
