Afghan security forces are not yet able to deal with violence in the country on their own, the top US military officer said on Wednesday, as US and Taliban appear close to an agreement to the 18-year-old war.
“Right now, it’s our judgment that the Afghans need support to deal with the level of violence today,” General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a press conference at the Pentagon.
“I’m not using the ‘withdrawal’ word right now. I’m using: We’re going to make sure that Afghanistan is not a sanctuary, and we’re going to try to have an effort to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan,” he added.
The comments come as US and Taliban negotiators are holding ninth round of talks in Doha, capital of Qatar. The group has been demanding full withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.
Dunford said that it was too early to talk about the future of US counterterrorism forces in Afghanistan.
“I honestly think it’s premature to talk about what our counterterrorism presence in Afghanistan may or may not be without a better appreciation for what will the conditions (be),” Dunford said.
Around 14,000 US troops are present in Afghanistan.
Dunford said that currently, Afghan forces needed US support to deal with the violence.
“If an agreement happens in the future, if the security environment changes, then obviously our posture may adjust,” Dunford said.
