US will maintain 8,600 troops in Afghanistan after major withdrawal: Trump

KABUL but would maintain a presence of 8,600 for now, according to a media report on Friday. 

"We're going down to 8,600, and then we make a determination from there as to what happens," Trump told Fox News radio on Thursday. "We'll make a determination, but we're going down to 8,600, we're bringing it down. We have it very well controlled."

Trump's remarks come as the US is negotiating with the Taliban to reduce the roughly 14,000 troops now in Afghanistan after nearly 18 years of war. Both sides have indicated those talks are closing in on an agreement. Trump was briefed on the status of those talks this month at his golf course in New Jersey. 

But Trump's desire to reduce America's military presence in Afghanistan has been fraught with political and military peril. Critics – including some of Trump's strongest supporters – fear a US withdrawal will open the door for a resurgence of  al-Qaida, as well as other terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan, such as the Islamic State.