US Withdraws Troops from 5 Bases in Afghanistan
"US forces in Afghanistan remain in the mid-8,000s and five bases formerly occupied by US forces have been transferred to our Afghan partners," Pentagon chief spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement on Tuesday, Press TV reported.
The withdrawal comes in the wake of a US-Taliban deal aimed at winding down the war.
"We maintain the capabilities and authorities necessary to protect ourselves, our allies and partners, and US national interests," Hoffman said. "We will continue to execute our counterterrorism mission while simultaneously supporting the 38-nation NATO Resolute Support Train, Advise, Assist mission and Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) as they work to secure peace in the country."
In a recent tweet, US special representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said the US-Taliban deal has entered the “next phase,” even though the militant group appeared to be ramping up violence.
Under the agreement, the US is supposed to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan, and the Taliban is to refrain from attacking international occupying forces. The militants have made no pledge to avoid attacking Afghan forces and civilians.
Violence has surged despite the deal between the Taliban and the United States, which was signed in February. Official data shows that Taliban bombings and other assaults have increased 70 percent since the militant group signed the deal.
