Peace with the Taliban? Trump warned of Afghan pullout risks

WASHINGTON (AP) – Trump administration claims of progress in talks with the Taliban have sparked fears even among the president’s allies that his impatience with the Afghanistan conflict will lead him to withdraw troops too soon, leaving the country at risk of returning to pre-war conditions.

Discussions between a U.S. envoy and the Taliban are advancing weeks after the administration said it wanted to begin drawing down troops in Afghanistan. Some critics have noted that President Donald Trump is telegraphing a withdrawal – the same thing he accused President Barack Obama of doing by saying he wanted to end the American combat mission in 2014.

National security experts worry that if America leaves and militants are again a part of the government, efforts to protect women and ethnic minorities will be lost.