General Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command visited northern Syria on 21 MayREUTERS/Yuri Gripas
The Hill: Top general: 'Political conditions' in Afghanistan don't merit withdrawal yet
"Political conditions" in Afghanistan do not merit a U.S. military withdrawal right now, the top U.S. general in the region said Thursday.
“The political conditions, where we are in the reconciliation right now don’t merit that,” Central Command chief Gen. Joseph Votel told the House Armed Services Committee.
Votel’s testimony to the committee comes as the Trump administration’s special envoy for Afghanistan negotiations, Zalmay Khalilzad, has been ramping up efforts to reach a peace deal with the Taliban in the 18-year-old war.
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Update #1: Afghan situation does not merit US withdrawal: Top general (AFP)
Update #2: Senior US commander says time not right for drawdown of troops in Afghanistan (Washington Examiner)
WNU Editor: He is probably right, but the peace talks continue .... Afghanistan: Sparking violence overshadows peace talks with Taliban (DW).
