According to the newspaper, the discrepancy between the real and declared numbers is caused by the unofficial presence of some military personnel on the territory of the country
Around 3,500 US troops are now in Afghanistan, although the official figures say only 2,500, The New York Times reported on Sunday citing sources in the US, Europe and Afghanistan.
According to the newspaper, the discrepancy between the real number and the stated number is caused by the fact that the presence of some military personnel on the territory of the country is unofficial. The newspaper stressed that understating the actual number of the US forces deployed abroad is a normal practice and information about the US forces in many countries is classified.
A Pentagon spokesman told The New York Times that 2,500 U.S. troops are still deployed in Afghanistan.
On February 29, 2020, the previous US administration and the Taliban (banned in Russia) signed a peace agreement in Doha. Under the agreement, the United States, its allies and the coalition undertake to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan within 14 months. They will not use any Afghani territory for actions threatening the security of the US and its allies.
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said March 10 that the new administration has not yet made a decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by May 1. The Washington Post reported on March 12 that some Pentagon officials considered it dangerous to withdraw troops by the deadline. The Pentagon warned there is not enough time now to leave Afghanistan by May 1 without major security and logistical problems. Sources pointed to the risk of civil war, terrorist attacks against the U.S. and its allies and a deterioration of the human rights situation in the country.