But outside the base, Afghan officials say, the U.S. withdrawal has had an outsized impact. The U.S. facility in Gardez was part of a larger Afghan base that is still in operation. The Afghan forces left at the base just southeast of the city center say they feel abandoned and more exposed. Following the signing of the U.S.-Taliban deal, Afghan security forces halted most offensive operations, taking up an “active defense” posture that the Afghan president describes as a gesture of goodwill. The group was able to take the vehicle to a police installation where they could be safer from Taliban attacks.

Source: Washington Post October 10, 2020 13:18 UTC