Afghanistan respects decision on US Troops withdrawal: President Ghani

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani, during a telephone call with his US counterpart Joe Biden on Wednesday, said that Afghanistan respects the US decision to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan.

"Tonight, I had a call with President Biden in which we discussed the US decision to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan by early September. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan respects the US decision and we will work with our US partners to ensure a smooth transition,” Ghani tweeted.

"Afghanistan’s proud security and defense forces are fully capable of defending its people and country, which they have been doing all along, and for which the Afghan nation will forever remain grateful," Ghani said.

"As we move into the next phase in our partnership, we will continue to work with our US/NATO partners in the ongoing peace efforts," said Ghani.

Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday, said: “We have achieved the goals that we set out to achieve. And now, it is time to bring our forces home.”

This announcement comes after reports that Biden will announce a complete US withdrawal from Afghanistan by September 11.

“This is an important moment for our alliance. Almost 20 years ago, after the United States was attacked on 9/11, together, we went into Afghanistan to deal with those who attacked us, and to make sure that Afghanistan would not again become a haven for terrorists who might attack any of us,” Blinken said in a televised statement at NATO headquarters.

Blinken also mentioned that President Joe Biden will speak to this in a few hours in the United States.

“I'm here to work closely with our allies, with the secretary general, on the principle that we've established from the start. In together, adapt together, and out together,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that CIA Director William Burns has told US lawmakers that there is a "significant risk" that terrorist groups in Afghanistan will seek to rebuild after US troops withdraw from Afghanistan later this year.