Trump bombshell: President to remove thousands of US troops from Afghanistan in peace deal
DONALD TRUMP has unveiled plans to withdraw thousands of US troops from Afghanistan as part of a peace deal with Taliban.
The Trump administration is preparing to remove the troops in exchange for concessions from the Taliban, according to The Washington Post. Trump’s concessions include a cease-fire and a renunciation of al-Qaeda in the hope it will end the 18-year war, US officials said. The agreement would reportedly cut the troops from 14,000 to at least 8,000.
A source told The Washington Post: “I would say that they are 80 or 90 percent of the way there.
“But there is still a long way to go on that last 10 or 20 percent.”
Plans towards the agreement come after Zalmay Khalilzad, an Afghan-born American diplomat was appointed by Trump to jump-start talks with the Taliban.
US officials believe an agreement could be finalised before the Afghan presidential election in September.
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Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid has said he doesn’t know when negotiations will continue.
He said: “We are hopeful. Things look promising that there will be a breakthrough.
“We hope there won’t be any obstacle, but it also depends on the seriousness of the Americans.”
The comments come after Mr Khalilzad called his recent visit to Afghanistan his "most productive”.
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He added: “If the Taliban do their part, we will do ours, and conclude the agreement we have been working on."
However, Defence Department spokesperson Commander Rebecca Rebarich told The Hill in a statement that department had not been directed to withdraw forces.
She said: ”Our strategy in Afghanistan is conditions-based.
"Our troops will remain in Afghanistan at appropriate levels so long as their presence is required to safeguard US interests."