KABUL – US Troops Withdrawal From Afghanistan Started. The United States military has begun withdrawing its soldiers from Afghanistan. This is a part of recent peace agreement with the Taliban.
According to details, Spokesman for the US forces in Afghanistan, Colonel Sonny Leggett, said in a statement that Washington is committed to reduce its troop from over 12,000 to 8,600 within 135 days under the agreement.
However, the spokesperson said that despite this drawdown, US forces will continue to accomplish its objectives including counterterrorism operations against Al-Qaeda and Daesh militants.
US and the Taliban came together after 19 years to sign a peace deal on 29th February. Meanwhile, the deal will see the withdrawal of thousands of US troops from Afghanistan in a 14-month time. Zalmay Khalilzad from US and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar from Taliban signed the deal. Marking the end of the longest war-engagement in US history. Almost two decades of conflict in Afghanistan that led to the death of thousands and trillions of dollars lost.
The signing ceremony occurred in Doha. Representatives and diplomats from 50 countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, US, and India attended. Senior Taliban leaders along with US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad attended. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also there. Meanwhile, foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi represented Pakistan at the ceremony. US Troops Withdrawal From Afghanistan Started.
This deal will pave way for US troop numbers to drop to 8,600 from about 13,000 in the weeks following the deal. Prior to the deal, Taliban commanders said the group will release 1000 Afghan prisoners as well.