US begins troops withdrawal from Afghanistan, denounces election runner-up Abdullah Abdullah

In a file photo taken on Sept 26, 2019, US soldiers board a plane in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. PHOTO: NYTIMES

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US military has begun withdrawing soldiers from Afghanistan as part of a pullout agreed in the Feb 29 peace agreement with the Taleban, a Pentagon official said on Monday (March 9).

The US has committed to reducing its troop level from more than 12,000 at the moment to 8,600 within 135 days of the agreement, said Colonel Sonny Leggett, spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan.

Even with the drawdown, US forces retain "all the military means and authorities to accomplish our objectives - including conducting counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda and ISIS-K and providing support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces", Col Leggett said in a statement.

Meanwhile the US on Monday denounced Afghan election runner-up Abdullah Abdullah's inauguration of himself as a rival president, urging unity in Kabul ahead of negotiations with the Taleban.

"We strongly oppose any action to establish a parallel government, and any use of force to resolve political differences," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement, without explicitly naming Mr Abdullah.

"Prioritising an inclusive government and unified Afghanistan is paramount for the future of the country and particularly for the cause of peace," he said.

Mr Pompeo nonetheless said he welcomed statements by both Mr Abdullah and President Ashraf Ghani showing a commitment to a peace process with the Taleban as the US began to pull troops after its nearly two-decade war.

Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah both inaugurated themselves as president on Monday in rival ceremonies inside the sprawling palace compound.

Mr Ghani was declared the winner of a fresh term in September polls, but Mr Abdullah alleged fraud. After the last election, Mr Abdullah joined a power-sharing arrangement brokered by then- US secretary of state John Kerry.

President Donald Trump's administration has shown thin patience with the bickering leaders in Kabul as it moves to end the war through the Feb 29 agreement.

The US has not congratulated Mr Ghani or commented on the election results, but in Monday's statement referred to him as "President Ghani".

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.