US Says Troops To Leave Afghanistan September 11

US President Joe Biden is set to announce that American troops
will leave Afghanistan by 11 September, officials have told US
media.

The US would miss a May deadline for a pull-out agreed with the
Taliban by the Trump administration last year.

The new deadline would coincide with the 20th anniversary of the
terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the US
in 2001.

Mr Biden had previously said the 1 May deadline would be tough
to meet.

US and Nato officials have said the Taliban, a hardline Islamist
movement, have so far failed to live up to commitments to reduce
violence.

The Taliban have been warned that if they attack US troops
during the pull-out phase, they “will be met with a forceful
response”, said a senior administration official who was briefing
reporters.

Mr Biden had decided a hasty withdrawal that would put US forces
at risk was not a viable option, the official added.

At the same time, a review of US choices determined that now was
the time to close the book on the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan
to focus on more acute threats.

Mr Biden is due to make the announcement himself on Wednesday.
BBC

US President Joe Biden is set to announce that American troops
will leave Afghanistan by 11 September, officials have told US
media.

The US would miss a May deadline for a pull-out agreed with the
Taliban by the Trump administration last year.

The new deadline would coincide with the 20th anniversary of the
terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the US
in 2001.

Mr Biden had previously said the 1 May deadline would be tough
to meet.

US and Nato officials have said the Taliban, a hardline Islamist
movement, have so far failed to live up to commitments to reduce
violence.

The Taliban have been warned that if they attack US troops
during the pull-out phase, they “will be met with a forceful
response”, said a senior administration official who was briefing
reporters.

Mr Biden had decided a hasty withdrawal that would put US forces
at risk was not a viable option, the official added.

At the same time, a review of US choices determined that now was
the time to close the book on the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan
to focus on more acute threats.

Mr Biden is due to make the announcement himself on Wednesday.
BBC