US begins troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, official says

American troops have begun leaving Afghanistan for initial troop withdrawal required in US-Taliban peace agreement, a US official said on Monday, amid political chaos in Kabul that threatens deal.

Hundreds of troops are heing out of country as previously planned, but y will t be replaced as US moves ahe with plans to cut number of forces in country from about 13,000 to 8,600, official said.

official spoke to Associated Press on condition of anymity to discuss movement ahe of a public anuncement.

pullout comes as Afghanistan's rival leers were each sworn in as president in separate ceremonies on Monday, creating a complication for United States as it figures out how to move forward on deal and end 18-year war.

sharpening dispute between President Ashraf Ghani, who was declared winner of last September's election, and his rival Abdullah Abdullah, who charged fraud in vote along with elections complaints commission, threatens to wreck next key steps and even risks devolving into new violence.

US has t tied withdrawal to political stability in Afghanistan or any specific outcome from all-Afghan peace talks.

Inste, it depends on Taliban meeting its commitment to prevent "any group or individual, including al-Qaida, from using soil of Afghanistan to threaten security of United States and its allies."

Under peace agreement, US troop withdrawal h to begin with 10 days after deal was signed on February 29.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said March 2 that he h alrey approved start of withdrawal, which would n be coordinated by military commanders in Afghanistan.

US official said that troops leaving w h been scheduled to depart, but y will t be replaced. Esper has said Gen. Scott Miller, US commander in Kabul, will pause withdrawal and assess conditions once troop level goes down to 8,600.

long-term plan is for US to remove all troops within 14 months if security conditions are met.

agreement with Taliban followed a seven-day “reduction in violence” period that, from Trump ministration's viewpoint, was meant to test Taliban's seriousness about moving toward a final peace agreement.