Taliban cheer Trump tweet promising early troop withdrawal The Afghan Taliban are welcoming a tweet from President Donald Trump in which he promised to have the last of U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by ChristmasISLAMABAD -- The Afghan Taliban on Thursday welcomed a tweet from President Donald Trump in which he promised to have the last of U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by Christmas — or at least by the end of the year. They’re not acting as troops.”America's exit from Afghanistan after 19 years was laid out in an agreement Washington reached with the Taliban in February. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said Trump's statement was welcome and he considered it a positive step for the implementation of the peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban. This is not the first time Trump has undercut the Pentagon with announcements about troop strength in Afghanistan. Trump has long promised to end U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and the agreement with the Taliban does not require the two Afghan sides reach a deal before Washington withdraws.

Source: ABC News October 08, 2020 12:40 UTC