US to remove troops from Afghanistan by Sep 11
- In Reports
- 05:24 PM, Apr 14, 2021
- Myind Staff
President Biden will withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan over the coming months, U.S. officials said, completing the military exit by the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that drew the United States into its longest war.
The move will extend military presence in Afghanistan beyond the May 1 withdrawal date previously negotiated by former President Donald Trump.
“Concluding there is no military solution for the problems in Afghanistan, Biden will instead work to put the "full weight" of the U.S. government behind diplomatic efforts to reach a peace agreement between the Taliban and Afghan government,” a senior administration official said.
"But what we will not do is use our troops as bargaining chips in that process," said the official, who agreed to brief reporters on the plans Tuesday on the condition of anonymity.
Biden will formally announce the withdrawal and other specifics in a White House speech Wednesday detailing "the way forward in Afghanistan," press secretary Jen Psaki said.
The U.S. and its NATO allies had signed a deal with the Taliban in February last year to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan if the Taliban met certain preconditions, including a cessation of violence (the Taliban has repeatedly attacked on civilians and Afghan security forces since) and not turning the country into a haven for terrorist groups, particularly al-Qaeda.
On Tuesday, the administration official warned that there would be consequences for the Taliban if it attacked U.S. or allied forces during the drawdown.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to arrive at an intra-Afghan settlement are under way. Istanbul will host talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government between April 24 and May 4, joined by talks that Qatar and the United Nations. The U.S. via Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had proposed a peace plan that included an interim government — a plan that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has resisted, backing elections instead.
India has said it would back a negotiated peace settlement via a regional process convened by the UN.
The U.S. would continue its push for a diplomatic solution, the administration official confirmed on Tuesday, saying the administration had “long known” that there was no “military solution” to Afghanistan’s problems.
(Inputs from Agencies)
Image Source: AP
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