“Today, U.S. force levels in Afghanistan have reached 2,500. Directed by President Trump, and as I announced on November 17, this drawdown brings U.S. forces in the country to their lowest levels since 2001.” Mr. Miller said in the statement.
According to Mr. Miller, the further reduction of U.S. troop levels to zero by May of 2021, remains conditions-based.
The United States will continue its mission in Afghanistan and will continue supporting Afghan forces to ensure that Afghanistan is never again a safe haven for those seeking to harm America, the acting secretary of defense said.
“Working alongside our NATO allies and partners, the United States will continue to execute both our counterterrorism mission and the train, advise and assist mission in support of Afghan Security Forces working to secure peace in their country,” according to the statement. “Continued fulfillment of these two complementary missions seeks to ensure that Afghanistan is never again used to harbor those who seek to bring harm to the United States of America.”
The United States singed a historic troops withdrawal agreement with the Taliban on late February last year which was intended to set the stage for an end to America’s decades-long war in Afghanistan.
The landmark deal also paved the ground for the intra-Afghan negotiations—the first direct official talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban—which opened on September 12.
President Trump’s Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said at the Pentagon earlier on November 17 that about 2,000 troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by January 15 and 500 more would come back home from Iraq, leaving 2,500 in each country.
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“This is consistent with our established plans and strategic objectives, supported by the American people, and does not equate to a change in U.S. policy or objectives,” said Mr. Miller who was announced the new chief of the Pentagon, replacing Mark Esper.
U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo earlier this month also defended outgoing President Trump’s troop withdrawal plan, saying there was no need for tens of thousands American soldiers to remain in Afghanistan.
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“The U.S. mission in Afghanistan was to eliminate al-Qaeda and threats to America, he tweeted. “Don’t need 10s of 1,000s of U.S. troops on the ground to do that. We have partners: brave Afghans, @NATO forces.”
The statement on troop drawdown come as country gripped with decades-long war is still witnessing high levels of violence amid peace efforts of the negotiators from the government and the Taliban.
Representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban began the second round of peace negotiations Saturday last week. Since then, they have held some meetings to prepare the agenda.
According to sources, some members of the Islamic Republic and of the Taliban negotiating teams were not yet in Doha.
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