Taliban attack | The United States can slow the withdrawal from Afghanistan

(Washington) The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) said today, Monday, that the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan may slow in light of the Taliban’s military progress on the ground, stressing that this will not raise doubts about the date of September.

“The plans can fluctuate and change if the situation changes,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby noted during a news conference on the Taliban’s advance, which surrounds many large Afghan cities.

“If we need to make changes to the frequency, range or volume of withdrawals on any given day or week, we want to maintain the flexibility to do so,” he said.

“There are two things that have not changed,” the spokesman added. First, we will complete the complete withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan except for those that remain to protect the diplomatic presence, and second, it will be done by early September, as ordered by the Commander in Chief, President Joe Biden.

The latter decided in April, contrary to military advice, to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. More than 50% of the withdrawals have already been completed.

John Kirby said the US military continues to provide air support to Afghan forces, but stressed that this support will not continue until the last day of the US military presence in Afghanistan.

“As I talk to you, we still provide some support, but that will change,” he warned.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his government’s chief negotiator in talks with the Taliban, Abdullah Abdullah, are expected to arrive at the White House on Friday.