No intention to stay longer in Afghanistan: Biden

KABUL (Pajhwok): US President Joe Biden on Thursday said it would be hard to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan on May 1 under a deal with the Taliban.

Addressing a press conference at the White House, his first as president, Biden said some 2,500 US troops could still be in Afghanistan after May 1.

The US and the Taliban had agreed upon deadline for American forces to leave the country under a year-old deal signed in Doha, Qatar.

Biden cited “tactical reasons” for the possible delay but said that even if the United States does not meet the deadline, he could not envision US troops staying in Afghanistan past next year.

“I can’t picture that being the case,” he said. “It is not my intention to stay there for a long time.”

“The question is how and under what circumstances do we meet that agreement that was made by President (Donald) Trump to leave under a deal that looks like it’s not being able to be worked out to begin with,” he said.

Gen. Richard Clarke, the commander of all US special forces, told US lawmakers earlier Thursday that the Taliban had not upheld what they said they would do and reduce the violence.

But the Taliban insist that it is clearly stated in the agreement that America will withdraw all its troops (from Afghanistan) by May 1.

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