Biden says all U.S., Nato troops will leave Afghanistan by Sept. 11April 15, 2021 - 12:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U․S․ president Joe Biden has declared it was time “to end America’s longest war” as he announced that nearly 10,000 U․S․ and Nato troops would return home from Afghanistan in the run-up to the 20th anniversary of 9/11․ The Guardian reports. Addressing the world from the White House, Biden said 2,500 U.S. troops plus a further 7,000 from “Nato allies” would gradually leave the country starting on May 1. “The plan has long been in together, out together,” he added. “We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan, hoping to create ideal conditions for the withdrawal and expecting a different result,” Biden said in a late afternoon speech. Biden said he was the fourth president to preside over the U.S.-led fight against the Taliban. “I will not pass this responsibility on to a fifth,” he said, and added he had told his predecessor, George Bush, who first ordered troops into the country in the aftermath of the terror attack on the Twin Towers, of his decision. The plan was debated at a Nato summit in Brussels earlier on Wednesday, April 14. Member states did not oppose the plans for a full withdrawal once the US has made its intentions clear earlier this week, partly because they cannot guarantee the security of their own forces without the presence of the U.S.. Photo: Getty Images Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. |