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White House official: Predictions hard to make on Afghanistan situation after U.S. pullout
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White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan delivers remarks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington D.C., U.S., March 12, 2021. /Reuters

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan delivers remarks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington D.C., U.S., March 12, 2021. /Reuters

The situation cannot be guaranteed in Afghanistan after U.S. troops withdraw from the country, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday.

The U.S. has fulfilled its goal of degrading Al-Qaeda and the time is right to leave, Sullivan told CNN on Sunday. 

However, the U.S. has "learned long ago not to make predictions about what is going to happen in Afghanistan," Sullivan added.

"I can't make any guarantees about what will happen inside the country. No one can," he told Fox news the same day.

U.S. President Joe Biden last Wednesday confirmed his plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by September 11, the day that marks the 20th anniversary of the Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks.

U.S. troops patrol at an Afghan National Army Base in Logar province, Afghanistan, August 7, 2018. /Reuters

U.S. troops patrol at an Afghan National Army Base in Logar province, Afghanistan, August 7, 2018. /Reuters

Former President Donald Trump's administration had set a May 1, 2020, deadline to withdraw the U.S. troops. However, it is universally acknowledged Biden was unlikely to meet that deadline.

Hours after Biden announced the pullout, the Taliban issued a statement expressing their dissatisfaction, calling the decision a clear violation of the Doha agreement and urging the United States to withdraw its troops immediately or face consequences.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seeks the withdrawal of all foreign forces on the date specified in the Doha agreement," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter last Wednesday.

"If the agreement is breached and foreign forces fail to exit on the specified date, problems will certainly be compounded and those who failed to comply with the agreement will be held responsible," he added.

There are currently about 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, responsible for training and counterterrorism missions. Another 7,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan have been sent to support the inexperienced Afghan security forces.

(With input from agencies)

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