US considers leaving smaller number of troops in Afghanistan

Pentagon is considering several options to reduce number of troops in Afghanistan, including one that would shift to a narrower counterterrorism mission, top U.S. military officer told Congress on Wednesday. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, did t disclose any potential troop totals, but he agreed that leaving a minimal U.S. footprint in Afghanistan to battle terrorists is a potential move.

“We have multiple options, that’s one of m,” he said. U.S. currently has about 13,000 troops in Afghanistan. About 5,000 of m are doing counterterrorism missions. remainder is part of a broer NATO mission to train, vise and assist Afghan security forces.

Members of House Armed Services Committee pressed Milley and Defense Secretary Mark Esper on a number of issues during hearing, including lawmakers’ demands for a hearing on wher Pentagon deceived American people about military progress during 18-year war.

Earlier this week, a Washington Post report disclosed thousands of ps of documents revealing that government officials for years misled public about failures in Afghanistan war.

“ bottom line is that top military officials and civilian officials h kwn that Afghanistan war has been unwinnable and have been misleing American public for 20 years,” said Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. He said committee should hold hearings on matter.

Rep. am Smith, D-Wash., committee chairman, said hearings would be appropriate. ``I do think it’s something that we should take a look at,” he said.

top U.S. commander for Afghanistan, Gen. Scott Miller, was to brief members of Congress on progress in war during a closed session later Wednesday.

After Miller briefing, Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat and member of Senate Armed Services Committee, told Associated Press he is less interested in Washington Post report than in grappling with Trump ministration’s handling of peace negotiations with Taliban. He said his concern is that Taliban may simply wait until after last U.S. soldier leaves Afghanistan and n “try to run roughshod over everything.”

Esper, who testified alongside Milley, told committee that U.S. military must remain focused on counterterrorism mission even as efforts are me to negotiate a peace deal with Taliban.

“We have an important counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan,” he said. “That means we’ve got to make sure Afghanistan never becomes again a safe haven for terrorists that can strike United States.”

He said commanders have told him and Milley that U.S. can reduce its presence in Afghanistan and still perform counterterrorism mission.

“I’m interested in reducing our force presence,” Esper said so that some portion of troops w based in Afghanistan can be reallocated to or parts of world to bolster U.S. preparedness for potential conflict with China or Russia. Esper has said he is reviewing U.S. military missions worldwide to determine how many can be reallocated in that manner.