DoD anticipates significant troop reduction in Afghanistan

By C. Todd Lopez, Defense.govSeptember 23, 2020

A crew member assigned to the scans his sector while providing security during a flight aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a fly-to-advise mission Dec. 14 in Southeastern Afghanistan. The 10th CAB provided air support for Afghan Soldiers assigned to the 203rd Thunder Corps, Afghan National Army, and U.S. Soldiers assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Armored Division to conduct battlefield circulation in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Operation Resolute Support (RS). Resolute Support is a NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and institutions.
A crew member assigned to the scans his sector while providing security during a flight aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a fly-to-advise mission Dec. 14 in Southeastern Afghanistan. The 10th CAB provided air support for Afghan Soldiers assigned to the 203rd Thunder Corps, Afghan National Army, and U.S. Soldiers assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Armored Division to conduct battlefield circulation in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Operation Resolute Support (RS). Resolute Support is a NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and institutions. (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Alejandro Licea) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON -- Based on the current conditions in Afghanistan, the Defense Department expects there will be fewer than 5,000 U.S. military service members in that country by the end of November, said David F. Helvey, who is currently performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.

"We've long maintained that our force presence in Afghanistan is conditions-based," said Helvey during testimony today before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, national security subcommittee. "This August, the president [decided] that the conditions of Afghanistan were sufficient to reduce our force presence to between 4,000 and 5,000 by the end of November 2020."

Afghan National Army Commandos stand in formation waiting to be greeted by Afghan Deputy Defense Minister Dr. Yasin Zia and Resolute Support Commander Gen. Scott Miller in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 3, 2020. Resolute Support is a NATO-led (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) mission to train, advise, and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and institutions.
Afghan National Army Commandos stand in formation waiting to be greeted by Afghan Deputy Defense Minister Dr. Yasin Zia and Resolute Support Commander Gen. Scott Miller in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 3, 2020. Resolute Support is a NATO-led (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) mission to train, advise, and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and institutions. (Photo Credit: Spc. Jeffery Harris) VIEW ORIGINAL

At that force level, Helvey said, the U.S. maintains an ability to conduct the core aspects of its existing missions in Afghanistan. One of those missions is to participate in theĀ NATO-led Resolute Support Mission, which is focused on training, advising and assisting the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. The U.S. also conducts a counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan that works with partners to mitigate terrorist threats there.

Right now, there are no orders to reduce the force presence any further, Helvey said, though there is planning to draw down to zero troops in Afghanistan by May 2021. But those plans can't be implemented unless the conditions of an agreement with the Taliban are met, he said.

"As [Secretary of State Mike Pompeo] said in Doha, the Taliban must uphold their counterterrorism guarantees to the United States," Helvey said. "We also expect the Taliban to meaningfully participate in Afghan peace negotiations, and to do their part in preventing outside actors from negatively impacting the peace process."

Afghan National Army trainees stand while waiting to be greeted by Afghan Minister of Defense Asadullah Khalid, Deputy Defense Minister Dr. Yasin Zia and Resolute Support Commander Gen. Scott Miller in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 5, 2020. Resolute Support is a NATO-led (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) mission to train, advise, and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and institutions. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Spc. Jeffery J. Harris/Released)
Afghan National Army trainees stand while waiting to be greeted by Afghan Minister of Defense Asadullah Khalid, Deputy Defense Minister Dr. Yasin Zia and Resolute Support Commander Gen. Scott Miller in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 5, 2020. Resolute Support is a NATO-led (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) mission to train, advise, and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and institutions. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Spc. Jeffery J. Harris/Released) (Photo Credit: Spc. Jeffery Harris) VIEW ORIGINAL

In late February of this year, the U.S. and the Taliban signed an agreement that includes, eventually, the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Since the signing of that agreement, the U.S. has reduced forces to 8,600. Part of that agreement also requires the Taliban to agree to no longer allow its members, or other groups, to use Afghanistan as a location from which to threaten the security of the United States or its allies.

Afghan National Army Soldiers assigned to the 203rd Thunder Corps, Afghan National Army, accompanied by Soldiers assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Armored Division walk off a UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter and move to an over watch position during a Afghan-led clearance operation in Southeastern Afghanistan, Sept 25, 2019. Elements of the 1st Armored Division headquarters, out of Fort Bliss, Texas, are deployed in support of Operation Resolution Support and Freedom's Sentinel in support of our Afghan partners. Resolute Support is a NATO-led, non-combat mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF).
Afghan National Army Soldiers assigned to the 203rd Thunder Corps, Afghan National Army, accompanied by Soldiers assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Armored Division walk off a UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter and move to an over watch position during a Afghan-led clearance operation in Southeastern Afghanistan, Sept 25, 2019. Elements of the 1st Armored Division headquarters, out of Fort Bliss, Texas, are deployed in support of Operation Resolution Support and Freedom's Sentinel in support of our Afghan partners. Resolute Support is a NATO-led, non-combat mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Alejandro Licea) VIEW ORIGINAL

Since the signing of that agreement on February 29, Helvey said, no U.S. military personnel have been killed in Afghanistan.

"Ultimately, what we want to be able to see in Afghanistan, is an enduring peace," Helvey said. "In that type of environment ... the terrorist organizations, terrorist groups, will not be able to operate, will not be able to plan, will not be present. That's the focus, and we're looking to get the Taliban to adhere to its commitments."

Related Links

Army.mil: Middle East News

Defense.gov

RELATED STORIES