WASHINGTON (Reuters) – US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday said there must be an immediate reduction of violence in Afghanistan, but did not offer any hints about whether the United States would withdraw its troops by a May deadline. “I urge all parties to choose the path towards peace. The violence must decrease, now,” Austin told reporters. “No matter what the outcome of our review, the United States will not undertake a hasty or disorderly withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Austin added. Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Chris Reese and Grant McCoolImage; FILE PHOTO: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks to Defense Department personnel during a visit by US President Joe Biden at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, US, February 10, 2021.

Source: Egypt Independent February 19, 2021 19:18 UTC