Skip to main content
Latest news
Thumbnail

Stoltenberg Warns of Risks of Early Afghanistan Withdrawal

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at an event on Sunday said an early and hasty withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan might endanger the gains “we have made; and that’s a risky project.” 

Stoltenberg said the US’s position on the withdrawal is clear as it the United States is going to reduce its presence in Afghanistan from roughly 4,500 to around 2,500 troops.  

 “No NATO ally would like to stay in Afghanistan longer than necessary,” he said. “The US will continue to provide support to the other NATO Allies. We have to remember that more than half of the troops in Afghanistan now are non-US – they are European allies and also partner nations.”  

He said that NATO is in Afghanistan to make sure that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for international terrorists.  

Stoltenberg said NATO at the same time strongly support the peace talks, which are taking place between Taliban and the government.   

Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan has been criticized by some US officials and former military generals who have called it an attempt in favor of the Taliban.   

Retired US general and former advisor of the US president, HR McMaster, criticized recent announcement on reduction of American troops presence in Afghanistan and said the Trump administration is handing the Taliban a victory by withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, calling the plan “abhorrent.” 

Stoltenberg Warns of Risks of Early Afghanistan Withdrawal

Stoltenberg says NATO strongly support the peace talks, which are taking place between Taliban and the government. 

Thumbnail

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at an event on Sunday said an early and hasty withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan might endanger the gains “we have made; and that’s a risky project.” 

Stoltenberg said the US’s position on the withdrawal is clear as it the United States is going to reduce its presence in Afghanistan from roughly 4,500 to around 2,500 troops.  

 “No NATO ally would like to stay in Afghanistan longer than necessary,” he said. “The US will continue to provide support to the other NATO Allies. We have to remember that more than half of the troops in Afghanistan now are non-US – they are European allies and also partner nations.”  

He said that NATO is in Afghanistan to make sure that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for international terrorists.  

Stoltenberg said NATO at the same time strongly support the peace talks, which are taking place between Taliban and the government.   

Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan has been criticized by some US officials and former military generals who have called it an attempt in favor of the Taliban.   

Retired US general and former advisor of the US president, HR McMaster, criticized recent announcement on reduction of American troops presence in Afghanistan and said the Trump administration is handing the Taliban a victory by withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, calling the plan “abhorrent.” 

Share this post