US, NATO forces in Afghanistan start preparing for withdrawal

A set of orders, with some very clear objectives, have been issued, he said, adding that they will continue their support for the Afghan Security Forces.

“All of our forces are now preparing to retrograde,” Miller was quoted as saying by TOLOnews in Kabul. “The notification day will be the first of May but at the same time as we start taking local actions, we have already begun that,” he added.

The withdrawal, he claimed, will be an orderly one. The first and foremost objective is to ensure that the Afghan security forces are in the best possible security posture. He also informed that bases and equipment would be handed over to Afghan forces.

“As we retrograde to zero US forces, we will turn over the bases primarily to the Ministry of Defense and other Afghan forces and that’s all bases as we start moving through the retrograde,” he said.

Miller further added, “There’s certain equipment that we must take back to our countries, that's a requirement, but wherever possible, if we do not have to, we're looking to ensure that the Afghan security forces have the bases, pieces of equipment, parts that are necessary for the functioning of the military.”

He also warned the Taliban against attacking withdrawing forces, saying, “we will have a forceful response if our forces are attacked.”