Afghan lawmakers on Saturday reacted to report of possible US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan with some backing it while others expressing concern.
US media recently reported that President Donald Trump was considering pulling out half of 14,000 American troops in Afghanistan. On Thursday, US Vice President Mike Pence said that Trump “is in the process of evaluating” whether to remove troops from the country.
Speaking in the Lower House, Syed Ali Kazemi, an MP representing Kabul, warned that a hasty withdrawal would not only affect Afghanistan but also the US.
“Both the Afghans and the Americans would face problems, if US troops hastily leave Afghanistan,” Kazemi said.
Ghulam Hussain Naseri, an MP representing Maidan Wardak, suggested that the Afghan government should be involved in decision making on future of foreign troops.
Some lawmakers welcomed the report of possible US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“I pray that God takes them away… it is silly to make friendship with US and Russia,” Abdul Wadood Paiman, who represents Kunduz in the parliament, said, adding US and its NATO allies played games in the region for their own interests under the guise of fight against terrorism.
Allah Gul Mujahid, an MP representing Kabul, said: “I swear that if US withdraws from Afghanistan, all will be well, there will be no suicide attacks or bloodshed, we have a history of 5,000 years. We won’t rely on Pakistan or India.”
