US President Joe Biden will announce on Wednesday that the U.S will fully withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021, NBC News reported on Tuesday. The symbolic deadline would coincide with the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
“The troop drawdown will begin before May 1, the deadline for complete withdraw as outlined in a deal the Trump administration reached with the Taliban,” NBC News reported quoting a senior administration official. “The US says there are roughly 2,500 troops currently serving in Afghanistan.”
“That withdrawal may be completed well in advance of September 11,” the official said. The US news channel said any remaining US troops in Afghanistan would be a number the administration, in consultation with allies, determines is required to protect American diplomats in the country.
TALIBAN THREAT: Meanwhile, the Taliban said that they would not participate in any conference that shall make decisions about Afghanistan.
Taliban spokesman Dr N Naeem took to Twitter to announce that it had decided “until all foreign forces completely withdraw from our homeland, the Islamic Emirate will not participate in any conference that shall make decisions about Afghanistan.”
The spokesman added: “The IEA performs its works with consultations according to the guidance of the noble religion of Islam and then adopts the stance whatsoever is decided in the result of the consultation.”
