KABUL – Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that there is a“real risk” that if American troops are pulled out of Afghanistan, theTaliban might retake control of the country.
Quoted in a report by CBS News, he said that the US should ensure that theAfghan government is stable before bringing American forces home. There arecurrently 12,000 US service members stationed in Afghanistan.
“I think that the circumstances under which you bring them home matter. AndI think trying to give the Afghan government the best possible shot atsurvival is really important for the future of Afghanistan,” Gates said asquoted by CBS News. He outlined potential consequences of the Talibanretaking control of the country, particularly the reduction of women’srights.
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Strict rules were imposed on women under the Taliban regime before 2001.Recently the Taliban has said it will now allow women to attend school andhold jobs.
