US Representative: Biden wants to discuss the survival of counterterrorism forces in Afghanistan

The Chairman of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Adam Smith said that President Joe Biden’s administration is seeking to keep US forces in Afghanistan beyond the scheduled deadline in May.

Smith, who provided new details about Biden’s vision for the peace process in Afghanistan, pointed out that the administration is looking into an agreement in which the “Taliban” would allow an American counter-terrorism force to stay in the country to confront the “ISIS” organization.

Smith told a forum for Foreign Policy magazine on the Internet that he had spoken to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about the withdrawal.

“I think there is a general feeling that the May 1 deadline is premature, just logistically … We have about 3,500 troops in Afghanistan. And our allies have about 7,000,” he added.

He pointed out that “you can not withdraw more than 10,000 soldiers in any way within six weeks.” He said the administration’s “first task” was to talk to the Taliban about letting the US-led forces stay a little longer.

“What the Biden administration wants to do is negotiate after May 1 and then at least explore the option: Has the Taliban changed their minds while … they are fighting ISIS as much as it is fighting the Afghan government.” Will their stance on the American presence change? I doubt it. But I think the administration thinks it is worth talking about. “

US officials have said Biden has made no decision on a deadline for withdrawing the last group of US forces from Washington’s longest war.

Biden said it would be “difficult” to meet the deadline set in the February 2020 deal with the “Taliban”.

Source: Reuters

Follow RT on