WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 21st December, 2018) Any move by President Donald Trump to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan would allow terrorist groups such as the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda (both banned in Russia) to regroup and launch fresh attacks on the United States, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry warned in a press release on Friday.
"Such a move would: complicate the remaining troops ability to protect themselves; cause coalition partners to reduce their presence as well; set back progress in helping the Afghan security forces be able to provide for their country's security; relieve pressure on the Taliban at a critical juncture in peace negotiations; and allow ISIS [Islamic State], Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan to rebuild and eventually launch terrorist attacks against Americans," Thornberry said.
Trump is mulling a reduction of about 14,000 US forces now in Afghanistan to 7,000, US media reported this week, as the US president announced plans to remove all 2,000 US service members now in Syria.
Thornberry said he feared that a US military drawdown would reverse progress against terror groups in the past two years and ultimately make America less safe.
Trump's plans prompted the resignation of Secretary of Defense James Mattis, while drawing opposition from Republicans and many Democrats in the US Congress.
