Iran Press/ Asia: The US will cut the number of forces in the country to 8,600, according to a statement by US Forces Afghanistan spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett.
"In accordance with the US-Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Joint Declaration and the US-Taliban Agreement, US Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) has begun its conditions-based reduction of forces to 8,600 over 135 days," Leggett said in the statement quoted by US media, Aljazeera reported.
"USFOR-A maintains all the military means and authorities to accomplish our objectives -including conducting counter-terrorism operations against Al-Qaeda and ISIS-K and providing support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces," he added. "USFOR-A is on track to meet directed force levels while retaining the necessary capabilities."
US and the Taliban but not the Afghan government signed an agreement on Feb. 29 in Doha, Qatar with the stated aim of 'bringing peace to Afghanistan' more than 18 years after US forces pushed the Taliban out of power.
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