U.S. February Deal With Taliban On Track In Spite Of Attacks

(Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) – Top General Says U.S. Troop Cut In Afghanistan Hits 8,600 Target In Line With Taliban Deal

General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, says the U.S. has reduced its troop presence in Afghanistan to the level agreed with the Taliban in February.

The United States has reduced its troop presence in Afghanistan to levels agreed to as part of a February deal with the Taliban, the general who oversees the region says. (…)

Under the deal, the United States agreed to reduce its forces in Afghanistan from 12,000 troops to 8,600 by mid-July. If the rest of the deal goes through, all U.S. and other foreign troops will exit Afghanistan by mid-2021.

McKenzie said a full U.S. troop withdrawal was “conditions-based” on the Taliban meeting their commitments. (…)

Taliban militants control about half of Afghanistan’s territory and have continued to carry out attacks since the U.S.-Taliban deal was signed.

The government has said that in recent weeks some 422 Afghan personnel have been killed or wounded across the country in at least 220 Taliban attacks. (…)

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Photo © A C-17 Globemaster III aircraft loading assets during an earlier draw down of US and international forces assets from Afghanistan, Bagram Airfield, Maj. Brandon Lingle, U.S. Air Force/ReleasedDepartment of Defense, August 2014