Will not comment on future strategic developments of Afghanistan :WH

The White House on Friday refused to comment on reports about troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and said it will not comment on any future strategic developments.

“We are not going to comment on future strategic developments,” Garrett Marquis, spokesman of the National Security Council, the White House told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The United States currently has 15,000 troops on the ground in Afghanistan. According to multiple media outlets, Trump wants to reduce the strength of his troops by 7,000. The White House has not responded to questions related to this except for saying that it does not want to comment on any future strategic decision.

Congressman Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he is deeply disturbed by reports that the Administration is planning to cut the number of American troops in Afghanistan by half.

“Among my concerns are that 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, Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan to rebuild and eventually launch terrorist attacks against Americans,” he said.

“Considerable progress has been made in the last two years against terrorist organizations in a variety of places around the world. Reducing the American presence in Afghanistan and removing our presence in Syria will reverse that progress, encourage our adversaries, and make America less safe,” Thornberry said.