US says withdrawal doesn't mean abandoning Afghanistan

The United States of America announced that the withdrawal of its military forces from Afghanistan does not mean abandoning it, stressing that Washington continues to support Kabul on all levels.

“It is absolutely not the case that we intend to abandon Afghanistan, that we intend to relent in our support for the government of Afghanistan, that we intend to diminish our support and our partnership for the people of Afghanistan,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters after the report’s release.

"Yes, we are withdrawing our forces," Price added. "But we intend to maintain a diplomatic presence in Kabul."

“That is something that is important to us, because of our inherent desire to have a continued partnership with the Afghan government, and crucially, with the Afghan people. So, it is absolutely not the case that we intend to abandon Afghanistan.”