US Secretary of Defense unannounced in Afghanistan | Abroad

An Afghan government spokesman said Austin spoke with President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul about, among other things, the peace talks with the Taliban, the fight against terrorism and the departure of US troops from Afghanistan.

Austin was already in the region. He has previously visited Japan, South Korea and India.

The US administration, under former President Donald Trump, has agreed with the Taliban that all 2,500 US military personnel still stationed in the country will be withdrawn by May 1. Before then, President Joe Biden’s current administration hopes to make political agreements.

al Qaeda

In exchange for the US promise, the Taliban pledged to cut all ties with the terrorist movement al-Qaeda and to hold peace talks with the Afghan government, with which the radical Islamic movement has been at war for years.

Austin said last month that Washington would review US strategy in Afghanistan in a “thoughtful and deliberate” way. Biden last week promised to consult with his allies on the timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

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