Kabul: The Pentagon says US commanders are capable of a complete drawdown of US troops from Afghanistan, signaling that such a move–adhering to the  US-Taliban deal made during the Trump administration–is still on the table despite its being reviewed by the Biden admistration, Tolo News reported.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Wednesday that US commanders including General Scott Miller, the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, and General Kenneth F. McKenzie are ready to complete the process if President Biden asks them to do so, the report said.

“What Secretary Austin said when we were in Kabul– which is that he is confident that General McKenzie and General Miller—if the decision is made to completely withdraw US troops from Afghanistan—they will get it done in a safe orderly and effective way,” said Kirby.

President Biden recently told reporters that meeting tbe May 1 deadline would be “tough.”

The report said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, in Brussels for the NATO ministerial, said the complete pullout of foreign forces from Afghanistan should not lead to the return of the Taliban to power, and that the pullout of foreign forces in the country should be condition-based. (Tolo news)