Taliban violence raises questions about US troop withdrawal

[DonViejo]

by LOLITA C. BALDOR
yesterday

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon on Thursday said the Taliban’s refusal to meet commitments to reduce violence in Afghanistan is raising questions about whether all U.S. troops will be able to leave by May as required under the peace agreement.

Pentagon chief spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. stands by its commitment for a full troop withdrawal, but the agreement also calls for the Taliban to cut ties with al-Qaida and reduce violence. Echoing what senior military and defense leaders have asserted in recent months, Kirby said the Taliban has not yet met the requirements set in the peace agreement.

“Without them meeting their commitments to renounce terrorism and to stop the violent attacks against the Afghan National Security Forces, it’s very hard to see a specific way forward for the negotiated settlement,” Kirby said. “But we’re still committed to that.”

White House and State Department officials have made it clear that President Joe Biden’s administration plans to take a new look at the peace agreement, which was signed last February with the Trump White House.

more
https://apnews.com/article/troop-withdrawals-military-and-defense-taliban-john-kirby-afghanistan-5fe4ff472db4e9795cab2a520053229e

[Klaralven]

1. Get out now - we lost Afghanistan in the first W's administration

We turned our backs on the Northern Alliance and put the Pashtuns back in power.