KABUL - General Kenneth F. McKenzie, top commander of the US Central Command, met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul on Saturday evening to discuss the start of the peace talks between government and the Taliban.
Also in attendance was First Vice President Amrullah Saleh along with other high-ranking Afghan officials.
According to ARG, the meeting focused on the start of peace talks between government and the Taliban, support and strengthening of the Afghan security and defense forces and the situation in Afghanistan.
McKenzie said: “My purpose in coming on this important and historic day is to reaffirm the United States’ support for the Afghan government, people and security and defense forces.”
He also stated that all the United States’ decisions are made in consultation with the Afghan government.
In return, Ghani thanked the United States for its support of an independent, united, and democratic Afghanistan.
This visit comes at a critical juncture in Afghanistan’s history. Not only have peace talks started but the US has also set in motion its troop drawdown process.
Since signing a deal with the Taliban in February, the US has withdrawn over 4,000 troops – which are now down from 13,000 to 8,600.
In the coming months a further reduction is expected after President Donald Trump announced last week that by November, troops would number only about 4,500 in Afghanistan. (ATN)