President Joe Biden will withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America that were coordinated from that country, several U.S. officials said. The administration official said Biden decided that the withdrawal deadline had to be absolute, rather than based on conditions on the ground. According to the administration official, the only U.S. forces remaining in Afghanistan will be those needed to protect diplomats there. Biden’s new, extended timeline will allow a safe and orderly withdrawal of American troops in coordination with NATO allies, the administration official added. “It’s going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline,” Biden said in March.

Source: The Nation April 14, 2021 14:01 UTC