President Trump: Taliban Deal Close, U.S. Troops To Drop To 8,600

Reuters: Trump: U.S. will maintain presence in Afghanistan even if deal reached with Taliban

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday that U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan were being reduced to 8,600 but that American forces would remain in the country even if Washington reaches an agreement with the Taliban to end the 18-year war.

“Oh yeah, you have to keep a presence,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News radio. “We’re going to keep a presence there. We’re reducing that presence very substantially and we’re going to always have a presence. We’re going to have high intelligence.”

Trump said the U.S. force level in Afghanistan was being reduced to 8,600 “and then we make a determination from there as to what happens.” Some 14,000 U.S. service members are currently in Afghanistan, among whom about 5,000 are dedicated to counterinsurgency operations.

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WNU Editor: This 8,600 troop number is the back-stop that critics of these "peace talks" have been demanding since the beginning. Have the Taliban agreed to this is something that we will have to see wait and see.

More News On President Trump Saying That A Taliban Deal Is Close, And That U.S. Troops Levels Will Drop To 8,600

Trump: Taliban deal close, US troops to drop to 8,600 -- AP
Trump says US will maintain 8,600 troops in Afghanistan after major withdrawal -- USA Today
Trump Says U.S. To Retain Military Presence In Afghanistan, Even With Peace Deal -- RFE
Trump: US to keep 8,600 troops in Afghanistan after Taliban deal -- The Hill
Trump says he plans to keep 8,600 troops in Afghanistan -- CNN
Trump announces latest decision regarding the number of U.S. troops he may keep in Afghanistan -- Khaama Press

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