Top US commander in Afghanistan tells troops to prepare for any outcome in 2019: report

The top U.S general in Afghanistan on Tuesday told NATO troops to prepare for any outcome in peace talks between the U.S. and Taliban that have gained momentum in recent weeks, Reuters reported.

Gen. Scott Miller, head of U.S. forces and the NATO-led noncombat Resolution Support mission in Afghanistan, stressed the need for a political end to the war.

{mosads}“Peace talks [are] out there, regional players pressing for peace, the Taliban talking about peace, the Afghan government is talking about peace,” Miller told NATO soldiers gathered at Resolution Support headquarters in Kabul for an exercise session. 

“Are [Resolution Support] able to adapt? Are we able to adjust? Are we able to be in the right place to support positive processes and negative consequences, that’s what I ask you guys to think about in 2019,” Miller said. 

He did touch on reports that President Trump was considering pulling out roughly half of the 14,000 U.S. troops currently deployed in Afghanistan. 

A White House spokesman said last week that Trump had not yet issued orders to the Pentagon to withdraw the troops.

As the administration considers a possible pullout, U.S. officials have ramped up peace talk efforts over the last several months.

Taliban representatives have indicated for months that they do not intend to make a deal through Afghanistan officials, but Washington has insisted that a deal must be led by the Afghans.

Taliban and Afghan officials have met at least three times to discuss the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces and a ceasefire in 2019, but fighting has not stopped.

“As long as the Taliban want to fight we are going to fight,” said Col. David Butler, a spokesman for U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, told Reuters.