MONITORING (SW) \u2013 The Biden administration is looking to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan past a May 1 deadline while exploring a deal in which the Taliban would allow a U.S. counter-terrorism force to remain as they confront their Islamic State foes, reported Reuters.
\nHouse of Representatives Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith\u2019s comments provided the new details of U.S. President Joe Biden\u2019s conduct of the Afghanistan peace process that he inherited from the Trump administration.
\nReuters reported that the State Department referred questions to the White House. The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. U.S. officials have said Biden has made no decision on the deadline to withdraw the last U.S. troops from America\u2019s longest war.
\nBiden has said it would be \u201ctough\u201d to meet the deadline here set in a February 2020 deal struck with the Taliban.
\nAddressing an online Foreign Policy magazine forum, Smith said he spoke to national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about the withdrawal.
\n\u201cI think there\u2019s a general feeling that May 1 is too soon, just logistically,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got … closer to 3,500 troops in Afghanistan. Our allies have around 7,000.\u201d
\n\u201cYou cannot pull out 10,000-plus troops in any sort of way in six weeks,\u201d he said. He added the administration\u2019s \u201cjob one\u201d is talking to the Taliban about allowing the U.S.-led force to remain for a little longer.
\nHe noted the Taliban demand that all foreign troops leave. If that remains their position, he said, \u201cI don\u2019t see that we have much choice but to leave,\u201d including counter-terrorism forces.
\n\u201cWhat the Biden administration wants to do is negotiate past May 1 and then at least explore the option: has the Taliban changed their mind as they … are fighting ISIS (Islamic State) almost as much as they are fighting the Afghan government,\u201d Smith continued.
\n\u201cMight their position change about a U.S. presence? I doubt it. But I think the administration is thinking it\u2019s worth the conversation,\u201d he said.
\nThe Taliban has been fighting Islamic State\u2019s local affiliate, and U.S. airstrikes on ISIS have proved critical to helping them rout their rivals.
\nBut, experts say, Islamic State remains a serious threat.
\nThe Taliban have indicated they will resume attacking foreign forces if Biden fails to meet the May 1 deadline, and some experts doubt they would allow any U.S. force to stay
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