Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Afghanistan pullback to slowly begin
Defense secretary said he has approved U.S. withdrawal despite more Taliban threats to continue attacks.
4A
WASHINGTON — Warning that it will be a “long, windy, bumpy road” to peace in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday he has approved the start of an American troop withdrawal even as the Taliban said it would continue attacks against Afghan forces.
At a Pentagon news conference, Esper said he wasn’t sure if the drawdown had begun, but he said it must start within 10 days of the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement announced Saturday. Esper said Gen. Scott Miller, the U.S. commander in Kabul, will begin the withdrawal to 8,600 troops from nearly 13,000, and then will assess conditions.
The agreement with the Taliban followed a sevenday “reduction in violence” period that, from the Trump administration’s viewpoint, was meant to test the Taliban’s seriousness about moving toward a final peace agreement.
Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there is no expectation that violence in Afghanistan will “go to zero” quickly. Esper said the U.S. expects violence will “taper off,” leading to a start by March 10 of negotiations among Afghan groups, including the Taliban.
At the White House, Trump was asked if he thought talks will begin as planned on March 10.
“Well, we’re going to find out. But we’re getting out. We want to get out.”
The Taliban military commission Monday issued an order to its fighters on the ground to resume attacks against Afghan forces and the “the Kabul puppet administration,” but not against foreigners.
There were reports of an attack in the eastern province of Khost, but Milley said it was not yet clear who was responsible. That area is known for Taliban activity, but other groups could be responsible.