Central Commander of the United States General Joseph Votel said that Afghanistan is not ready to afford for complete US troops withdrawal from its territory.
Depicting to ongoing complications and insecurities in Afghanistan, he said US needs to remain in the country to prevent possible threats and activities of extremists groups such as Daesh and Al-Qaida, as he recently warned groups’ presence in the region.
As Doha talks, earlier, gave heads-up on US troop withdrawal, Votel said Pentagon has not received any order as to address for its troops withdrawal for Afghanistan.
“We have not been directed to withdraw. There are no orders to withdraw anything. It is certainly a function of the conditions on the ground, but it also is of a function of the conditions in the political process as well,” said Votel. “And so, as I indicated, as I talk about my best military advices, we should make decisions based on the political progress. The political conditions where we are in the reconciliation right now, don’t merit that.
Votel’s remarks comes after States’ media reported that the US and Taliban agreed upon two key issues over Afghanistan peace: US forces withdrawal and commitment that Afghanistan will not be used as a threatening ground against other countries.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary Gen. Jens Stoltenberg said Afghanistan’s achievement following the collapse of the Taliban regime should not be compromised during the peace talks.
“For any peace to be sustainable, it will need to be built on the achievements that we have made in recent years, including on human rights and the rights of women,” said Stoltenberg.
Meantime, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Afghanistan once again should not become a rivalry ground between big powers.
Wang exclaimed that as a neighbor to Afghanistan, he and his countrymen will support any move towards peace and development in the region.
“Afghanistan should not again become an arena of great power rivalry, nor should it be subject to incessant conflicts or wars,” he said. “As Afghanistan’s neighbor and friend, China will respect its people’s wishes and needs, continue to do its best for pushing forward reconciliation and reconstruction in Afghanistan, local media quoted.
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