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US Starts Afghan Withdraw Amid Mixed Messages

Carla Babb

   PENTAGON - Defense Secretary Mark Esper says the United States will
   begin a partial withdrawal down to 8,600 U.S. troops in Afghanistan in
   the coming days, as the Taliban and the U.S. issued conflicting
   messages about future violence in the war-torn nation.

   Speaking at a Pentagon news conference Monday, Esper said that the
   newly-inked U.S.-Taliban agreement requires the U.S. military to start
   withdrawing forces within 10 days of its signing on Feb. 29.

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