i24NEWS – AFP
February 29, 2020, 07:19 AM – latest revision February 29, 2020, 07:38 AM
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AP Photo/Hoshang Hashimi
U.S. soldiers part of the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) walks, as a U.S. Chinook helicopter is seen on the back ground in Shindand, Herat, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.
Within first 135 days from signing Doha treaty, US expected to reduce Afghanistan presence to 8,600 troops
The US aims to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan ‘within 14 months’, a joint declaration by US and Kabul authorities announced on Saturday.
The pull-out is expected to be conditional on whether the Taliban lives up to its commitments under the deal expected to be signed in Doha later in the day. NATO forces present in the country as part of the alliance’s mission in Afghanistan are also expected to be withdrawn.
Within the first 135 days from signing the treaty, the US will have to reduce its presence in Afghanistan to 8,600 troops, the declaration says.
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The declaration aims to pave the way to a comprehensive peace treaty for Afghanistan, which includes three components besides the foreign troops pullout.
These include guarantees that terror groups will find no safe haven in Afghanistan, a comprehensive ceasefire in the country and a political settlement to the standoff between the Taliban and the Kabul authorities.
The latter is expected to come out of the intra-Afghan talks between the two sides, with the Taliban expected to commit to taking part in those as part of the Doha deal.