Trump wants forces reduced in Afghanistan by next US polls
US President Donald Trump wants combat forces reduced in Afghanistan by the next US presidential election, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday, in comments that underlined the growing pressure from Washington to cut troop numbers there.
Trump's South Asia strategy, unveiled in August 2017, called for an open-ended deployment of US forces with the goal of compelling the Taliban to negotiate peace with the Kabul government to end nearly 18 years of war.
However, Pompeo's comments underscored a shift that has apparently taken place since talks with the Taliban opened last year.
"That's my directive from the president of the United States," Pompeo told The Economic Club of Washington DC when asked whether he expects the United States to reduce troops in Afghanistan before the next election in November 2020.
"He's been unambiguous: end the endless wars, draw down, reduce. It won't just be us," he said, referring to Trump's directive. "We hope that overall the need for combat forces in the region is reduced.
Pompeo's comments come at a delicate moment, as Afghanistan prepares for a presidential election of its own in September and the United States prepares to engage in another round talks with the insurgents. Disclosing Trump's goal of withdrawing forces could weaken the US negotiating position if the Taliban believe Trump wants to get out, no matter what.
Meanwhile, the United Nations yesterday denounced the "shocking and unacceptable" level of civilian deaths in Afghanistan's war despite a push to end the 18-year-old conflict.
The latest information from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) shows a 27 percent drop in casualties for the first half of 2019 compared to the same period last year -- which was a record -- but nonetheless, 1,366 civilians were killed and another 2,446 injured.
UNAMA also said that for the second quarter running, US and pro-government forces caused more civilian deaths than the Taliban and other insurgent groups. During the first half of 2019 pro-government forces, including the US, killed 717 civilians, an increase of 31 percent from a year earlier.
Most of the deaths came from US and Afghan air strikes, often in support of national forces on the ground.
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