<p>NATO allies agreed Wednesday to start withdrawing their forces from Afghanistan by May 1 after the United States announced it would pull troops out by September, an alliance statement said.</p>.<p>"This drawdown will be orderly, coordinated, and deliberate," the statement said after talks involving defence and foreign ministers.</p>.<p>"We plan to have the withdrawal of all US and Resolute Support Mission forces completed within a few months."</p>.<p>NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the allies "went into Afghanistan together, we have adjusted our posture together, and we are united in leaving together.</p>.<p>"This is not an easy decision and it entails risks," he said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/joe-biden-says-time-to-end-us-war-in-afghanistan-with-total-pull-out-974218.html" target="_blank">Joe Biden says 'time to end' US war in Afghanistan with total pull out</a></strong></p>.<p>"As I've said for many months, we face a dilemma. Because the alternative to leaving in an orderly fashion, is to be prepared for a long-term, open-ended military commitment with potentially more NATO troops."</p>.<p>US President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced that Washington would withdraw its remaining 2,500 troops from Afghanistan by September 11 -- 20 years after the attacks in America that sparked its longest war.</p>.<p>The drawdown delays only by around five months a May 1 deadline agreed with the Taliban by former US president Donald Trump to withdraw troops, amid a growing consensus in Washington that little more can be achieved.</p>.<p>The 9,600-strong NATO training and support mission, which includes the US troops and depends heavily on Washington's military assets, includes personnel from 36 NATO members and partner countries.</p>.<p>The withdrawal comes despite peace efforts between the Taliban and the Afghan government stalling, with the insurgents saying they would boycott upcoming talks in Turkey.</p>.<p>"The future of Afghanistan, ultimately, is in the hands of the Afghan people where it belongs," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said alongside Stoltenberg in Brussels.</p>.<p>"But our support, our engagement and our determination remain."</p>
<p>NATO allies agreed Wednesday to start withdrawing their forces from Afghanistan by May 1 after the United States announced it would pull troops out by September, an alliance statement said.</p>.<p>"This drawdown will be orderly, coordinated, and deliberate," the statement said after talks involving defence and foreign ministers.</p>.<p>"We plan to have the withdrawal of all US and Resolute Support Mission forces completed within a few months."</p>.<p>NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the allies "went into Afghanistan together, we have adjusted our posture together, and we are united in leaving together.</p>.<p>"This is not an easy decision and it entails risks," he said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/joe-biden-says-time-to-end-us-war-in-afghanistan-with-total-pull-out-974218.html" target="_blank">Joe Biden says 'time to end' US war in Afghanistan with total pull out</a></strong></p>.<p>"As I've said for many months, we face a dilemma. Because the alternative to leaving in an orderly fashion, is to be prepared for a long-term, open-ended military commitment with potentially more NATO troops."</p>.<p>US President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced that Washington would withdraw its remaining 2,500 troops from Afghanistan by September 11 -- 20 years after the attacks in America that sparked its longest war.</p>.<p>The drawdown delays only by around five months a May 1 deadline agreed with the Taliban by former US president Donald Trump to withdraw troops, amid a growing consensus in Washington that little more can be achieved.</p>.<p>The 9,600-strong NATO training and support mission, which includes the US troops and depends heavily on Washington's military assets, includes personnel from 36 NATO members and partner countries.</p>.<p>The withdrawal comes despite peace efforts between the Taliban and the Afghan government stalling, with the insurgents saying they would boycott upcoming talks in Turkey.</p>.<p>"The future of Afghanistan, ultimately, is in the hands of the Afghan people where it belongs," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said alongside Stoltenberg in Brussels.</p>.<p>"But our support, our engagement and our determination remain."</p>