U.S. to withdraw about 7,000 troops from Afghanistan, officials say

[Lonewarrior]

US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad arrives in Islamabad

US, Taliban to Meet Monday in UAE

Zabihullah Mujahid said representatives from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the UAE would also take part in the meeting, which follows at least two meetings between Taliban officials and U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar.

https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2018/12/16/world/asia/16reuters-usa-afghanistan-taliban.html

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has ordered the military to start withdrawing roughly 7,000 troops from Afghanistan in the coming months, two defense officials said Thursday, an abrupt shift in the 17-year-old war there and a decision that stunned Afghan officials, who said they had not been briefed on the plans.

DYMN

The announcement came hours after Jim Mattis, the secretary of defense, said that he would resign from his position at the end of February after disagreeing with the president over his approach to policy in the Middle East.

The whirlwind of troop withdrawals and the resignation of Mr. Mattis leave a murky picture for what is next in the United States’ longest war, and they come as Afghanistan has been troubled by spasms of violence afflicting the capital, Kabul, and other important areas. The United States has also been conducting talks with representatives of the Taliban, in what officials have described as discussions that could lead to formal talks to end the conflict.

LOL

The plan to reduce American forces in the country comes just days after the United Arab Emirates hosted two days of talks between the United States and the Taliban. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the decision to withdraw troops.

Mr. Khalilzad, in discussing progress in the negotiations, said the Taliban’s demand remained an agreement over the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, while the United States has sought assurances from the militant group that Afghanistan would not become a haven for terrorists.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/us/politics/afghanistan-troop-withdrawal.html

Amreekans ...

 

[PakLFC]

Taliban will keep fighting until America withdraws every last soldier. The Taliban have all the time in the world to fight. America has lost the war, everyone knows it.

 

[gazza619]

And so the mess will be left behind. What a disgrace!

 

[King-Misbah]

What about Indian efforts and investment in Afghanistan?

 

[cricketjoshila]

US will continue to have 7000 troops in Afghanistan. So they are not leaving the place.

 

[last_knight]

Taliban will keep fighting until America withdraws every last soldier. The Taliban have all the time in the world to fight. America has lost the war, everyone knows it.

Taliban will keep fighting forever. If not America, Taliban will find/create an enemy.

And America withdraw troops from one land only to invade another. Trump policy on Syria and now this news.

War is a big big industry and war-industrialists are some of influential lobbyists.

 

[shaz619]

I don't feel as if they will ever completely leave, so much damage they have ruined the country and damaged relations with their neighbours

 

[shaaik]

Finally, the Americans seem to hv admitted the fact which they knew all along that the Talibans can't be defeated. They should leave Afghanistan completely now which they have to do later anyway.

 

[PakLFC]

Taliban will keep fighting forever. If not America, Taliban will find/create an enemy.

And America withdraw troops from one land only to invade another. Trump policy on Syria and now this news.

War is a big big industry and war-industrialists are some of influential lobbyists.

As long as they keep fighting in their own country and not Pak. Prior to the USA invasion we were fine with whatever the Taliban were doing in Afghanistan. It is up to the people of Afghanistan what government they want in their unfortunate country.

 

[Lonewarrior]

US will continue to have 7000 troops in Afghanistan. So they are not leaving the place.

are you spokesperson of USA ?

 

[slipcatch]

What about Indian efforts and investment in Afghanistan?

India can't compete against China.

China is already investing and training Afghan in northern Afghanistan.

If US withdraw then India will have no support in Afghanistan.

 

[PakLFC]

I am not celebrating just yet. Most likely Blackwater will continue the war for the Americans.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

It’s amazing the reaction this (and the Syria withdrawal announcement) has had in America. It has united everyone from Hillary to Lindsay Graham to all the other chronic war lovers in America. They are acting as if someone has just stolen their Xmas presents from under their tree and replaced them with a **** or two.

I think they’ll somehow get Trump to delay it, or water it down significantly, long enough until election time then his replacement will carry on as usual.

 

[Adijazz1706]

It’s amazing the reaction this (and the Syria withdrawal announcement) has had in America. It has united everyone from Hillary to Lindsay Graham to all the other chronic war lovers in America. They are acting as if someone has just stolen their Xmas presents from under their tree and replaced them with a **** or two.

I think they’ll somehow get Trump to delay it, or water it down significantly, long enough until election time then his replacement will carry on as usual.

Unlikely, for all the media rhetoric, people in the widespread internet era can see what's happening for themselves. Don't forget, 4chan beat giants like FB and Google in helping bring Trump to power

 

[cricketjoshila]

are you spokesperson of USA ?

Why are you so burning?

 

[Lonewarrior]

Why are you so burning?

I am not burning. but the people and thre handlers who attacked pakistan (APS,Mehran base etc) from across pak-afghan border are surely burning from this news.

 

[enkidu_]

US will continue to have 7000 troops in Afghanistan. So they are not leaving the place.

The talibans also said that they’ll keep fighting till the last foreign soldier gets kicked out, so let’s see who will remain in Afghanistan : Afghans (talibans) or American soldiers.

 

[Markhor]

How long is this cycle of sending more troops then withdrawing then sending more troops then withdrawing will continue ?

Afghan Govt will fall without US air power. At best they can hold onto the urban centres.

I only see a repeat of Saigon 1975 - when South Vietnamese officials and US forces were clambering on board helicopters before the Vietcong arrived.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

It’s amazing the reaction this (and the Syria withdrawal announcement) has had in America. It has united everyone from Hillary to Lindsay Graham to all the other chronic war lovers in America. They are acting as if someone has just stolen their Xmas presents from under their tree and replaced them with a **** or two.

I think they’ll somehow get Trump to delay it, or water it down significantly, long enough until election time then his replacement will carry on as usual.

Trump is all about putting America first, so to be quite blunt about it, America should withdraw from both Syria and Afghanistan. These overseas military operations cost the American tax payer an arm and a leg, unless there is some hidden motive to keep troops posted abroad, they should bring them home. Why should American youth be dying in far off lands when they are gaining nothing for themselves or their country?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Why are you so burning?

I always mean to ask this, but you often refer to posters as burning, how do you know this? They are often living thousands of miles away, perhaps if you can smell burning it may be closer to home than you think?

 

[barah_admi]

Trump is all about putting America first, so to be quite blunt about it, America should withdraw from both Syria and Afghanistan. These overseas military operations cost the American tax payer an arm and a leg, unless there is some hidden motive to keep troops posted abroad, they should bring them home. Why should American youth be dying in far off lands when they are gaining nothing for themselves or their country?

Trump is not withdrawing based on "America first". The military establishment essentially controls the US government, with the the intelligence community being just as if not more influential. They are planning something new.

IF, and this is a big if, Trump really is going to challenge that establishment, then he will not be president for long.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Trump is not withdrawing based on "America first". The military establishment essentially controls the US government, with the the intelligence community being just as if not more influential. They are planning something new.

IF, and this is a big if, Trump really is going to challenge that establishment, then he will not be president for long.

Quite a big statement bro, the sort that are often thrown around against Pakistan military by many supporters of the free world and proud of Indian democracy, the oldest and most proud in the region for 50 years.

 

[barah_admi]

Quite a big statement bro, the sort that are often thrown around against Pakistan military by many supporters of the free world and proud of Indian democracy, the oldest and most proud in the region for 50 years.

It is an honest and factual statement. Dwight D. Heisenhower spoke about it in his farewell address before handing over to JFK. Major General Smedley Butler wrote about it a generation earlier and the leaflet was widely circulated.

The worst part is, as old as this truth is, too few people know or even bother trying to understand (not saying that is you lol)

 

[James]

Trump is not withdrawing based on "America first". The military establishment essentially controls the US government, with the the intelligence community being just as if not more influential. They are planning something new.

IF, and this is a big if, Trump really is going to challenge that establishment, then he will not be president for long.

Agreed.

US Presidents have got to be highly agile diplomats to even have a chance of progressing beyond Figurehead status.

The 22nd Amendment was a genius move from the US deep state, because it ensures that no President no matter how brilliant will ever be in office for long enough to find the loose threads, unpick the dirty truths and peel away the myriad layers of corruption that encase the military-industrial and intelligence establishments.

JFK was far too intelligent and popular to be permitted a second term, which is why his own subordinates killed him and blamed it on the unfortunate Oswald.

Trump is now challenging the military and intelligence institutions in a different way - he is no genius, he is just fearlessly aloof - and he will not last if he continues in a similar vein.

4 or 8 years will rocket by when the day job of President is so busy, then they simply hand over to the next useful idiot who commands the attention of the public - whilst the true policy making and string-pulling continues in the background.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Agreed.

US Presidents have got to be highly agile diplomats to even have a chance of progressing beyond Figurehead status.

The 22nd Amendment was a genius move from the US deep state, because it ensures that no President no matter how brilliant will ever be in office for long enough to find the loose threads, unpick the dirty truths and peel away the myriad layers of corruption that encase the military-industrial and intelligence establishments.

JFK was far too intelligent and popular to be permitted a second term, which is why his own subordinates killed him and blamed it on the unfortunate Oswald.

Trump is now challenging the military and intelligence institutions in a different way - he is no genius, he is just fearlessly aloof - and he will not last if he continues in a similar vein.

4 or 8 years will rocket by when the day job of President is so busy, then they simply hand over to the next useful idiot who commands the attention of the public - whilst the true policy making and string-pulling continues in the background.

Trump has worked out the big con the military and all the state organs have been playing.

 

[Robert]

Trump has worked out the big con the military and all the state organs have been playing.

I wouldn’t give him anything like this level of credit. He is a rank amateur whose strings are pulled by Russian oligarch money. His though processes are inconsistent and no adult can work for him. Now he is diminishing American influence in that region.

 

[barah_admi]

Agreed.

US Presidents have got to be highly agile diplomats to even have a chance of progressing beyond Figurehead status.

The 22nd Amendment was a genius move from the US deep state, because it ensures that no President no matter how brilliant will ever be in office for long enough to find the loose threads, unpick the dirty truths and peel away the myriad layers of corruption that encase the military-industrial and intelligence establishments.

JFK was far too intelligent and popular to be permitted a second term, which is why his own subordinates killed him and blamed it on the unfortunate Oswald.

Trump is now challenging the military and intelligence institutions in a different way - he is no genius, he is just fearlessly aloof - and he will not last if he continues in a similar vein.

4 or 8 years will rocket by when the day job of President is so busy, then they simply hand over to the next useful idiot who commands the attention of the public - whilst the true policy making and string-pulling continues in the background.

Exactly.

Trump has worked out the big con the military and all the state organs have been playing.

Even if he has figured it out (does not take a genius) I odubt he hast he power or the fortitude to do anything about it.

I wouldn’t give him anything like this level of credit. He is a rank amateur whose strings are pulled by Russian oligarch money. His though processes are inconsistent and no adult can work for him. Now he is diminishing American influence in that region.

Why do you want American influence in Syria?

 

[Gabbar Singh]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Pentagon issued a notice to commanders known as a "warning order" to begin planning to drawdown the number of troops in Afghanistan to 2,500 troops and 2,500 in Iraq by Jan 15. Currently there are about 4,500 in Afghanistan and 3,000 in Iraq.<a href="https://t.co/inxrbOp534">https://t.co/inxrbOp534</a></p>— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins/status/1328414705669517325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[msaaim89]

Really slow paced. What are the remaining troops expected to achieve?

 

[sweep_shot]

USA should eventually disappear from Afghanistan completely and never come back. Let Afghans handle it.

The problem in Afghanistan is internal in nature. USA can't fix it.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Yes this news is about Iraq but I bet Biden reverses the Afghan troop withdrawal as well.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: President Biden is considering reversing Trump's drawdown in Iraq by adding thousands of troops to combat growing terror threats in the region as evidenced by Thursday's attack near the US embassy.<a href="https://t.co/PuipGp9VGM">https://t.co/PuipGp9VGM</a></p>— @amuse (@amuse) <a href="https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1352303194899165184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Napa]

Yes this news is about Iraq but I bet Biden reverses the Afghan troop withdrawal as well.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: President Biden is considering reversing Trump's drawdown in Iraq by adding thousands of troops to combat growing terror threats in the region as evidenced by Thursday's attack near the US embassy.<a href="https://t.co/PuipGp9VGM">https://t.co/PuipGp9VGM</a></p>— @amuse (@amuse) <a href="https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1352303194899165184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Neocons are back in power following Biden's victory.

https://www.salon.com/2021/01/19/wh...s-a-key-player-in-bidens-foreign-policy-team/

Most Americans have never heard of her, because the U.S. corporate media's foreign policy coverage is a wasteland. Most Americans have no idea that President-elect Biden's pick for deputy secretary of state for political affairs is stuck in the quicksand of 1950s U.S.-Russia Cold War politics and dreams of continued NATO expansion, an arms race on steroids and further encirclement of Russia.

But my idiot friends in the US think that Trump was terrible and Biden is great.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/US?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#US</a> will review the peace deal reached with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Taliban?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Taliban</a> under the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trump?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Trump</a> administration, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan tells his Afghani counterpart in a phone call.<a href="https://t.co/eATgQhCGPl">https://t.co/eATgQhCGPl</a> <a href="https://t.co/yVwBZqdrqm">pic.twitter.com/yVwBZqdrqm</a></p>— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng/status/1352742894919184385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Pakpak]

China is next door, there's no way they will leave.

Imagine if China had bases in Mexico, Cuba, Panama or Canada. We'd never hear the end of it.

 

[Robert]

Why do you want American influence in Syria?

I don't. Syria leans towards Moscow not Washington. What has this to do with Trump's lack of political ability?

 

[ahmedzee]

Yes this news is about Iraq but I bet Biden reverses the Afghan troop withdrawal as well.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: President Biden is considering reversing Trump's drawdown in Iraq by adding thousands of troops to combat growing terror threats in the region as evidenced by Thursday's attack near the US embassy.<a href="https://t.co/PuipGp9VGM">https://t.co/PuipGp9VGM</a></p>— @amuse (@amuse) <a href="https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1352303194899165184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Iraq, a democratic nation, had opposed US troops stay in their land 2 years ago and passed a resolution. Biden calls himself a champion of democracy, yet his actions is that of a military dictator who doesn't want to remove troops from somewhere and keep occupying other nations.

Remember everyone, i told you so this would happen. Expect escalation of troops in Afghanistan as well and we will also have another third nation where US will send more troops.

This is the pathetic dictatorship in the name of democracy that people voted for in the US.

 

[Technics 1210]

I wouldn’t give him anything like this level of credit. He is a rank amateur whose strings are pulled by Russian oligarch money. His though processes are inconsistent and no adult can work for him. Now he is diminishing American influence in that region.

Evidence Trump's strings were pulled by Russian oligarch money? Do you have it?

Remember the DoJ couldn't prove this claim but you believe it, why?

What's so bad about American influence in the region diminishing?

Why do you support American's policy of foreign agression? What did Iraq, Iran, Syria, or libya ever do to the UK or USA for that matter? I never read of your condemnation of Western politicians causing the loss of innocent lives in the ME - why?

 

[Bigboii]

Iraq, a democratic nation, had opposed US troops stay in their land 2 years ago and passed a resolution. Biden calls himself a champion of democracy, yet his actions is that of a military dictator who doesn't want to remove troops from somewhere and keep occupying other nations.

Remember everyone, i told you so this would happen. Expect escalation of troops in Afghanistan as well and we will also have another third nation where US will send more troops.

This is the pathetic dictatorship in the name of democracy that people voted for in the US.

They're not stationing troops in Seattle are they?

 

[Giannis]

Iraq, a democratic nation, had opposed US troops stay in their land 2 years ago and passed a resolution. Biden calls himself a champion of democracy, yet his actions is that of a military dictator who doesn't want to remove troops from somewhere and keep occupying other nations.

Remember everyone, i told you so this would happen. Expect escalation of troops in Afghanistan as well and we will also have another third nation where US will send more troops.

This is the pathetic dictatorship in the name of democracy that people voted for in the US.

Yeah cause that's the only why people voted for him? Just say you're upset he cancelled Keystone pipeline lol.

 

[ahmedzee]

Yeah cause that's the only why people voted for him? Just say you're upset he cancelled Keystone pipeline lol.

I am gld you brought KXL. Why should I not be upset. My colleagues lost their jobs, they hve families and kids to feed. Who the hell are you to rejoice someone’s misery? It was a stupid decision if you actually educate yourself on the facts instead of barking around here.

 

[ahmedzee]

They're not stationing troops in Seattle are they?

They are in Iraq, which is a democratic nation that passed a resolution for withdrawal of US troops from their land. I am by no means a trump supporter and there are things in Biden administration I like, but there are things I despise too and this is one of them. We are seeing same old war mongering we saw during Obama and Bush times.

 

[Giannis]

I am gld you brought KXL. Why should I not be upset. My colleagues lost their jobs, they hve families and kids to feed. Who the hell are you to rejoice someone’s misery? It was a stupid decision if you actually educate yourself on the facts instead of barking around here.

America first buddy and the environment plus Indigenous people's rights. The oil industry isn't dead and even if it eventually dies as expected, there's something called reinventing yourself, you can't stay stagnant in an ever changing world. Old industries die and new ones pop up, the ones who can adapt are the ones who succeed, if your colleagues see the writing on the wall then a career change is logical, I'm sure if people in the gas industry were being paid well and saved their money they could've invested in their education for another career or at least in stocks and real estate. The world is going electric in the near future so you can't expect the world do revive a soon to be obsolete industry, that's literally the definition of welfare according to conservatives, expecting the government to send hand outs to the oil industry and make policies that could help them even if detrimental for the country.

 

[Giannis]

They are in Iraq, which is a democratic nation that passed a resolution for withdrawal of US troops from their land. I am by no means a trump supporter and there are things in Biden administration I like, but there are things I despise too and this is one of them. We are seeing same old war mongering we saw during Obama and Bush times.

Uh war mongering has literally been our foreign policy for over half century, that's not a Republican vs Democrat thing. Yes, Trump reduced troops in the middle east and scaled down drones but he did his share of war mongering with killing suleimani and a top Iraqi general pushing us towards world war 3 and then Iran out of panic accidentally shooting down a commercial plane carrying 300 people. In addition to that Trump dropped the MOAB on Afghanistan which is comparable to small nuclear arsenal
https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/trump-drops-the-mother-of-all-bombs-on-afghanistan

Not only that, Trump literally war mongered against Venezuela and supported a violent coup in Bolivia, if anything he didn't change our policy towards Latin America at all. Then there's him moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and forcing other Muslim countries to abandon Palestinians and recognize Israel; if anything Palestine should be the red line for all Muslims yet here you have Muslim contrarians praising Trump even though he support illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

 

[Technics 1210]

Palestine is not a Muslim issue, it is a humanitarian issue. Get this in your heads.

While Muslims make up the majority of Palestinians, Christians and Athiest Palestinians are also effected. Should said people be ignored?

The thrust of the Palestinian issue is how their homes/land were stolen, and how Palestinians are refugees in their own country.

The enemy of Palestinians is not the Jew, but the Zionist.

 

[Madplayer]

China is next door, there's no way they will leave.

Imagine if China had bases in Mexico, Cuba, Panama or Canada. We'd never hear the end of it.

Might be replaced by private mercenaries like blackwater.

 

[ahmedzee]

America first buddy and the environment plus Indigenous people's rights. The oil industry isn't dead and even if it eventually dies as expected, there's something called reinventing yourself, you can't stay stagnant in an ever changing world. Old industries die and new ones pop up, the ones who can adapt are the ones who succeed, if your colleagues see the writing on the wall then a career change is logical, I'm sure if people in the gas industry were being paid well and saved their money they could've invested in their education for another career or at least in stocks and real estate. The world is going electric in the near future so you can't expect the world do revive a soon to be obsolete industry, that's literally the definition of welfare according to conservatives, expecting the government to send hand outs to the oil industry and make policies that could help them even if detrimental for the country.

American and indigenous right ? You think 20 years of permits and they haven’t done that? 2500 construction jobs are from US, including steel that is already procured. All the indigenous groups have a stake in this and have signed in favour of this. Just do a simple Google search to get educated, you just blabber without even doing your own research.

Yes, oil industry isn’t dead, and every decade it does reinvents itself. Name one oil company that isn’t reducing emissions and going carbon neutral by 2050. It is a challenge. Once again, get educated you dim wit.

You said world is going electric. Yet you fail to realize cars/trucks accounts for just 7-10 of crude production. Show me how u can make plastic through batteries. Also, did I not discuss you before on how production of an electric car accounts for 8 years worth of carbon emissions already. Once again, get educated you dim wit.

As I said, renewables has its own place. But if renewable was the answer you would see every energy company doing this. In europe they can’t build charging stations without govt subsidy. Even then it breaks even for those companies. In North America it is the same thing. Seriously, why am I even arguing with you, you are dumb, have no clue. I hve been in energy business (including renewables) for 20 years. If renewable was the answer, then you would’ve seen it around.

Welfare? Way to assume we are living in welfare. We want jobs, not welfare. And by your statements definition of welfare is govt subsidies I mentioned above. People in Ontario suited the premier for removing electric car subsidy. That is what I call welfare. Once again, get educated you dim wit.

 

[Firebat]

Afghanistan conflict: US makes new push for UN-led peace process

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has made a blunt new push for a UN-led peace effort in Afghanistan.

In a letter to the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Mr Blinken called for a 90-day reduction in violence and a transitional government formed from both sides.

Mr Blinken also said no decision had been made about whether to stick to a planned US troop withdrawal by 1 May.

He called on President Ghani to show "urgent leadership".

Mr Blinken's letter, a copy of which was obtained by the BBC on Sunday, reflected the difficult position the US finds itself in as it reviews whether to withdraw its last 2,500 troops.

A deal struck with the Taliban during the Trump administration in February 2020 committed the US to withdrawing by 1 May, but Afghan officials fear the move would create enormous security challenges.

Mr Blinken warned in his letter that the Taliban could make "rapid territorial gains" across the country in a "spring offensive".

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56316649

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-security-biden/biden-says-tough-to-meet-may-1-deadline-for-afghanistan-troop-pullout-idUSKBN2B92DQ

U.S. President Joe Biden said in an interview broadcast on Wednesday that it will be “tough” for him to meet a May 1 deadline to withdraw the last troops from Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war. Biden’s comments to ABC News were his most extensive to date about the deadline set in an accord struck with the Taliban under former President Donald Trump in February 2020.

His interview aired a day before Russia, China, the United States, Pakistan, a delegation of top Afghan officials and opposition leaders and Taliban negotiators meet in Moscow in an attempt to kickstart deadlocked peace talks.

Some U.S. officials and many experts fear that if U.S.-led international forces depart before a peace deal is reached, Afghanistan could plunge into a new civil war, giving al Qaeda a new sanctuary.

“I am in the process of making that decision now as to when they will leave,” Biden said of the last 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. “It could happen, but it is tough.”

Biden said Trump’s agreement was not “very solidly negotiated.” Even so, Biden has retained as his own peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, the veteran U.S. diplomat who worked the deal out for Trump.

The Taliban has warned it could resume attacks on U.S.-led international forces if Biden misses the deadline.

The 2020 accord specified a phased conditions-based U.S. withdrawal. Trump ordered it to proceed despite a surge in violence blamed mostly on the Taliban, a six-month delay in intra-Afghan peace talks and what U.S. officials say is the Taliban’s failure to fulfill a commitment to cut ties with al Qaeda. This diluted U.S. negotiating leverage.

The Taliban has denied that al Qaeda fighters remain in Afghanistan, where the insurgents provided the Islamist extremists with sanctuary as they planned the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The Taliban deny responsibility for the escalating violence.

On taking office, Biden ordered a review of the 2020 deal.

But in retaining Khalilzad, Biden adopted in large part a proposed peace accord drafted at the end of Trump administration calling for U.S.-backed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to surrender power to an interim administration, half of whose members the Taliban would select.

Ghani has repeatedly rejected standing aside, saying elections should decide a change in government. The Taliban reject democratic elections and the nationwide ceasefire called for by the U.S. proposal.