FILE PHOTO: A U.S. soldier keeps watch at an Afghan National Army base in Logar province, Afghanistan August 5, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani/File Photo
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - International troops plan to stay in Afghanistan beyond the May deadline envisaged by the insurgent Taliban’s deal with the United States, four senior NATO officials said, a move that could escalate tensions with the Taliban demanding full withdrawal.
“There will be no full withdrawal by allies by April-end,” one of the officials told Reuters. “Conditions have not been met,” he said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. “And with the new U.S. administration, there will be tweaks in the policy, the sense of hasty withdrawal which was prevalent will be addressed and we could see a much more calculated exit strategy.”
The administration of then-President Donald Trump signed an agreement with the Taliban early last year calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops by May in return for the insurgents fulfilling certain security guarantees.
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Update #1: 'No full withdrawal' of international troops from Afghanistan by May: report (The Hill) Update #2: Biden signals a tougher line with the Taliban (MSNBC)
WNU Editor: This would violate an accord struck by the Trump administration and Taliban negotiators last year that calls for the removal of all coalition forces by May. There will be a backlash from the Taliban who have convinced themselves that they have won the war .... The Taliban says they won the war in Afghanistan. They are not wrong (Task and Purpose).
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