Will the US exit Afghanistan by the 4th? Top general says not so fast

In an update on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, the United States’ top general in Afghanistan stressed the need for a “political solution” before the U.S. pulls its troops out of the country.

“The way it must end for the Afghan people is something that revolves around a political solution,” U.S. General Austin S. Miller said. “I have also said that if you don’t reduce the violence that political solution becomes more and more difficult.”

General Miller said he’s worried about a rapid loss of Afghan districts to the Taliban, who have issued statements saying hundreds of Afghan security forces have surrendered.

Miller said there’s multiple reasons for the collapse of districts, including troop fatigue, psychological defeat and military loss. But he said escalating violence risks the country falling into a deadly civil war.

“Military takeover is not in the interest of anyone, certainly not for the people of Afghanistan,” Miller said. “Today we have the ability in accordance to the US Taliban agreement and the authorities to support, provide support, that is, obviously equipment, maintenance type of support, sustainment support, but also the ability to support Afghan security forces when attacked.”

Miller refused to say where the U.S. and its NATO allies were in the withdrawal process.

American officials have said the remaining 2,500-3,500 American troops in Afghanistan will be out by July 4.

But Miller refused to give any date or time frame, referring only to the Sept. 11 timeline President Joe Biden announced in April.

As for the legacy of America’s longest war, Miller did not speculate.

“The legacy will be written by the future, that is something as we move forward, the future will tell the rest of the story,” Miller said. “I have also talked about that, you know as the coalition, as NATO, what we will have to do is to make an honest assessment of what went well, and what didn’t go so well over the years as we work forward.”