Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin arrived in Afghanistan Sunday for an unannounced visit with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and top U.S. generals. The trip came after President Biden said last week the U.S. might not honor its agreement with the Taliban to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 1. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting top NATO officials in Brussels, Belgium, today to discuss whether to cancel or delay those plans. The Taliban have called on the U.S. to honor its commitments and warned of a “reaction” if the U.S. and its allies violate a peace agreement signed in February 2020. About 3,500 U.S. troops and another 6,500 NATO soldiers remain in Afghanistan — nearly 20 years after the U.S.-led invasion.
Defense Sec. Austin in Afghanistan Amid Questions over May 1 Troop Withdrawal Deadline
HeadlineMar 22, 2021
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