Taliban attack | The US is slowing its withdrawal from Afghanistan

“Plans are subject to fluctuations and may change if the situation changes,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said at a news conference on the Taliban’s progress, which surrounds several large Afghan cities.

“If there are any changes in speed, range or withdrawal range on any given day or week, we want to keep the flexibility to do so,” he said.

But “there are two things that have not changed,” the spokesman said. “First, we will withdraw US forces from Afghanistan altogether, except for those remaining to maintain a diplomatic presence. Second, it will take place in early September, as commanded by the Commander-in-Chief.”

It was decided in April against military advice to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan by the twentieth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. More than 50% of the withdrawal operations have already been completed.

John Kirby said the U.S. military would continue to provide air support to Afghan forces, but stressed that this support would not last until the last day of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.

“As I speak to you, we still have some support, but that will change,” he warned.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his government’s chief negotiator Abdullah Abdullah were at the White House on Friday for talks with the Taliban.