Ultimate US Withdrawal from Afghanistan Not Set in Stone
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iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — America’s top commander in Afghanistan suggests that the security situation in the country will dictate whether to move forward on cutting the number of U.S. troops in half by the end of 2015.
General John Campbell, head of the Resolute Support mission, told the Army Times that there are 10,600 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan at present with plans to bring down the level to 9,800 on May 1 and 5,500 eight months later.
However, inasmuch as Afghan National Security Forces have grown increasingly capable of fighting the Taliban, which shows no sign of surrendering, Campbell said he would be regularly assessing the Afghan military’s progress and that of the government and “if we can really get after the objectives that we set.”
It will be up to Campbell to decide whether a planned drawdown is realistic or if it will be necessary to extend the U.S. mission, which is due to wrap up in December 2016.
American forces presently act in training and advisory roles only, with some involved in counterterrorism measures.
Campbell acknowledged that the Islamic State, which has thus far focused its efforts in Syria and Iraq, has been active in recruiting new members in Afghanistan although most Taliban members still pledge allegiance to their leader, Mullah Omar, who has hid in Pakistan since late 2001.
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