President Joe Biden is expected to announce the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan later this week, a senior administration official said Tuesday.The move was first reported by the Washington Post. Citing people familiar with the plans, the US-based newspaper said the withdrawal date would be Sept. 11, 2021 and that Biden would announce the move on Wednesday.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.That would mark 20 years since terrorists hijacked commercial airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and other US cities. The 9/11 attacks drew the US into one of its longest wars in history after the Bush administration sent troops to Afghanistan in an effort to root out al-Qaeda, which was based out of Afghanistan.Former US President Donald Trump reached a deal with the Taliban last year that would see American forces withdrawn from Afghanistan by May 1. NATO allies and the Afghan government have urged Biden and the Pentagon not to go ahead with the move over fears that the Islamist Taliban would take over the country.Last month, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters that the US had spent $825 billion in Afghanistan since 9/11.“Afghanistan just does not rise to the level of those other threats at this point,” the Post quoted a person familiar with Biden's plans as saying. "We are going to remain committed to the government, remain committed diplomatically. But in terms of where we will be investing force posture, our blood and treasure, we believe that other priorities merit that investment,” the person reportedly said.Since taking office, Biden has said that Russia and China pose the biggest threats to Washington and to the international community.Read more: US joins Russia, China, and Pakistan in call for ceasefire in Afghanistan
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Biden to announce withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan this week: Official
