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Afghan Taliban Hails Trump's Proposed Troop Exit Plan

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - The Taliban says U.S. President Donald Trump's intention to
   withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan before the end of the
   year will bode well for the peace deal between the two adversaries.

   Trump suggested on Twitter late Wednesday a withdrawal timeline as
   early as Christmas, a deadline much sooner than that put forward by his
   national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, earlier in the day.

   "We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women
   serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!" Trump tweeted.

   The Taliban hailed the announcement as "a positive step" on the way to
   implementing the peace deal it signed with the United States on
   February 29 aimed at ending the 19-year-old Afghan war.

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