*WASHINGTON DC: *The Trump administration will announce as early as thisweek plans to withdraw around 4,000 troops from Afghanistan, US mediareported.
Talks between the United States and the Taliban resumed a week ago as theparties sought a path to reduce violence or even reach a ceasefire.
They were paused by Washington on Thursday, however, after an attack by themilitant group near a key US air base north of Kabul that left twocivilians dead and dozens injured.
There are 13,000 US troops currently in Afghanistan.
*NBC* on Saturday cited three current and former US officials as saying theTrump administration intends to announce the draw down of 4,000 troops fromAfghanistan.
Two of those said some of the troops would be redeploying early, whileothers would not be replaced when they end their term.
*CNN* cited one official in the Trump administration as saying theannouncement on a draw down could happen this week, but that the “timingremains in flux”.
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The State Department did not reply to an *AFP* request to comment onSunday, and the Pentagon referred questions to the White House, which hadno immediate comment.
According to a draft agreement from September, reached after years ofnegotiations, the Taliban would be required to commit to certain securitymeasures, agree to talks with the Afghan government and promise a reductionof violence in exchange for a US troop withdrawal.
US President Donald Trump insisted last month on the need for a ceasefireand made a surprise visit to Bagram air base in Afghanistan on November 28to celebrate Thanksgiving with troops and meet Afghan President AshrafGhani.
Trump has previously indicated he wants to wind down US militaryentanglements abroad where possible. -APP/AFP
