{"id":13905,"date":"2020-03-19T12:38:56","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T12:38:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/19\/quarantines-in-afghanistan-may-slow-down-us-withdrawal\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:39:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:39:28","slug":"quarantines-in-afghanistan-may-slow-down-us-withdrawal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/coronavirus\/2020\/03\/19\/quarantines-in-afghanistan-may-slow-down-us-withdrawal\/","title":{"rendered":"Quarantines in Afghanistan may slow down US withdrawal, meanwhile deployments there on pause"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The coronavirus<\/a> is throwing a wrench into American plans to exits its longest war serving as a potential spoiler for peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New York Times<\/a> reported that quarantine procedures implemented to halt the spread of COVID-19 are impacting efforts that could potentially slow a draw down of forces over the next several months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A U.S.-Taliban deal inked Feb. 29 in Doha, Qatar, calls for U.S. troop levels to reduce to 8,600 by mid-July and complete a full withdrawal within 14-months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But some troops entering and exiting Afghanistan airfields are undergoing a14-day quarantine <\/a>period, according to the New York Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resolute Support said in a news release that it \u201cis making the necessary adjustments to temporarily pause personnel movement into theater,” and that adopted screening guidelines from the World Health Organization \u201cwill necessitate some servicemembers remaining beyond their scheduled departure dates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roughly 1,500 personnel, troops and contractors arriving in Afghanistan within the last week are living in screening facilities to help stop the spread of the virus, according to the release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese servicemembers are living in screening facilities out of an abundance of caution, not because they are sick,\u201d the release reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProtecting the force is our top priority,\u201d Army Col. Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for U.S. Forces Afghanistan tweeted Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leggett said USFOR-A was working with the Defense Department and U.S. Central Command to reduce the risk of COVID-19 <\/a>to deployed personnel in Afghanistan \u201cincluding screening and testing protocols.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe continue to execute the ordered draw down to 8,600,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military Times has confirmed from four U.S. sources on the ground in Afghanistan that there are 14-day quarantine periods imposed at Bagram Air Base and Kandahar Airfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The German military detailed in a news release<\/a> that its forces would undergo a 14-day quarantine before the start of operations in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A U.S. military official told Military Times that the preventative screenings are for inbound personnel to Afghanistan. The official said that inbound screening was being shifted to troop-contributing nations, who will hold and screen before approving entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two U.S. sources told Military Times that access to testing kits is complicating efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\t