The top commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan says the process of fully withdrawing troops from the conflict-ravaged country has begun.
Gen. Scott Miller told local reporters Sunday in the Afghan capital of Kabul that all of his forces “are now preparing to withdraw” under orders he has received.
Miller’s remarks came about two weeks after President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of the last remaining 3,000 or so U.S. troops before Sept. 11 – the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Biden said the withdrawal would begin May 1, ending the longest war in U.S. history at nearly 20 years long.
Miller also directs U.S. and NATO non-combatants in Afghanistan to carry out the “Resolute Support” military mission.
NATO allies have pledged to cooperate with the operation. Under an agreement negotiated between Washington and Afghan Taliban militants a year ago, NATO allies will also withdraw about 7,000 troops.
General Miller said: “We will withdraw from Afghanistan in an orderly manner, which means transferring bases and equipment to the Afghan security forces.” .
The U.S. and its allies launched a military invasion of Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to punish the then-Taliban rulers for harboring and allowing al-Qaida leaders to plan massacres.
This military action quickly defeated the Taliban regime. However, the Taliban regrouped and launched deadly attacks against Afghan and U.S.-led international forces to reestablish control over large areas of Afghanistan.
A February 2020 agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban called for all foreign troops to leave Afghanistan by May 1, but Biden cited logistical reasons for delaying the deadline.
Taliban insurgents, who halted attacks on foreign troops after the agreement was signed, denounced the delay as a violation of the agreed-upon deadline and threatened to resume hostilities against U.S. forces when they withdraw from Afghanistan.
Miller said his forces continue to maintain “the military means and capability to fully defend themselves in the current withdrawal and will support Afghan security forces.
He denied allegations that the U.S. violated the agreement and warned of a robust U.S. response if the Taliban attacked foreign forces.
In a speech at U.S. military headquarters in Kabul, Miller said, “I had the opportunity to speak with Taliban members of the Taliban political council, and I told them that a return to violence and an effort to make military decisions would be a tragedy for Afghanistan and the Afghan people.”
There are fears that without U.S. assistance, Afghan security forces will collapse in the fight against the Taliban, which could lead to more conflict and bloodshed.
The U.S. general reminded the Taliban of their obligation under the agreement to cut ties with al-Qaida militants to ensure that Afghanistan would never be used as a sanctuary for terrorism.
The United Nations reported last January that there are about 500 al-Qaida members in Afghanistan and that the Taliban maintain close ties with them. The Taliban deny al-Qaida’s presence in the country and deny allegations that they are in close contact.
The war in Afghanistan has so far claimed the lives of some 241,000 people, including civilians, locals and combatants from international forces, at a cost to the U.S. of at least $2.4 trillion, according to a recent U.S. study released last week.
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