{"id":47141,"date":"2020-11-22T17:10:42","date_gmt":"2020-11-22T17:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/11\/22\/afghan-governments-chief-peace-envoy-says-rapid-us-troop-reduction-premature\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:50:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:50:10","slug":"afghan-governments-chief-peace-envoy-says-rapid-us-troop-reduction-premature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/11\/22\/afghan-governments-chief-peace-envoy-says-rapid-us-troop-reduction-premature\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghan government\u2019s chief peace envoy says rapid US troop reduction premature"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ANKARA, Turkey \u2014 Afghanistan\u2019s chief peace envoy Abdullah Abdullah said Saturday that the U.S. decision to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan has come too soon, as his country is still struggling to attain peace and security amid an ongoing conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with The Associated Press, Abdullah also described as \u201cshocking\u201d an Australian military report that found evidence that elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners<\/a>. He welcomed a decision by Australian authorities to pursue the perpetrators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abdullah spoke in Ankara where he sought Turkey\u2019s support for negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban <\/a>that are taking place in Qatar to find an end to decades of war. The talks have made little progress so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is the decision of the U.S administration and we respect it,\u201d Abdullah said of the U.S. decision this week to reduce troops levels in Afghanistan from more than 4,500 to 2,500. \u201cOur preference would have been that with the conditions improving, this should have taken place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t