U.S. Working Towards Removal of Roughly 4,000 Troops from Afghanistan, Secretary of Defense says

On Thursday, the United States and Taliban agreed to “a reduction in violence in Afghanistan”, to last for a period of seven days. Following this peace period, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper says the U.S. will “have to consider whether or not to move forward with a [full] peace agreement.” “With the peace agreement there will be a reduction to [8,600 troops] over time”, the Defense Secretary added.

The United States and Taliban “have agreed to a number of things”, including the United States is “going to suspend a significant part of [its] operations” in Afghanistan.

Before the U.S. decides whether to move forward with the peace agreement, the Secretary of Defense says “all sides” must “meet their obligations under that reduction of violence”.