Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says he spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden on American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan respects the U.S. decision and we will work with our U.S. partners to ensure a smooth transition,” he said.
“As we move into the next phase in our partnership, we will continue to work with our US/NATO partners in the ongoing peace efforts,” President Ghani continued.
The phone call comes hours before U.S. President Joe Biden is set to announce his troop pullout plans.
He plans to keep U.S. forces beyond a May 1 deadline which was negotiated between former President Donald Trump and the Taliban on late February last year.
Officially, there are 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, although the number fluctuates and is currently about 1,000 more than that. There are also up to an additional 7,000 foreign forces in the coalition there, the majority of them NATO troops.
President Ghani, however, said in his phone call with U.S.’ Biden that Afghans were “fully capable” to defend their country and people.
Earlier on Tuesday, media reports on President Biden’s plans to extend Americans presence in Afghanistan by September 11 this year hit the headlines.
Shortly after the reports published, the Taliban who negotiated a troop withdrawal deal with the U.S. former President Donald Trump on late February last year, announced they wouldn’t take part in any peace conference on Afghanistan until all foreign forces leave the country.
“Until all foreign forces completely withdraw from our homeland, the Islamic Emirate will not participate in any conference that shall make decisions about Afghanistan,” Naeem Wardak, spokesman for the political office of the Taliban took to Twitter.
The Taliban had already warned to resume attack against foreign troops if they stay in Afghanistan beyond the May deadline which was set in a peace agreement negotiated between the United States and the Taliban.
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