WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has taken the decision to withdraw7,000 troops from Afghanistan, around half of American military personnelsecurity stationed there, The New York Times reported on Friday.
According to reports of leading US newspaper, the Wall Street Journal,which was first to report the development, said that the White House isconsidering a “significant drawdown” of US troops in the country, saying itcould start as soon as within several weeks.
The White House and Pentagon made no immediate comments.
The reports came shortly before news emerged Thursday afternoon thatDefence Secretary James Mattis had submitted his resignation to PresidentDonald Trump, effective in February. Mattis wrote in his resignation letterthat Trump should choose a replacement “whose views are better aligned withyours.”
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Reports about a drawdown in Afghanistan also come one day after PresidentTrump stoked anger and confusion among a number of lawmakers and officialswith his surprise decision to pull US troops out of Syria.
