NATO to be included in troop withdrawal decision: Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that the troop withdrawal decision will be done in consultation with NATO allies.

Addressing a joint press conference in Brussels, with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, ahead of the two-day Foreign Ministers meeting, Blinken said the review of the May 1 troop withdrawal deadline is still underway but that no decisions will be taken without the input of NATO allies.

“I am here [in Brussels] to listen and consult,” he said.

“We went in together, we adjusted together and when the time is right we will leave together,” he added.

Blinken said the common word, or theme, is “together” and that the US will make its decision in conjunction with NATO allies.

“As we consult on way forward we shall do so as an Alliance”, said Blinken

Stoltenberg meanwhile said peace talks are fragile but noted that negotiations were the only way to achieve a lasting peace in Afghanistan.

“To achieve this all parties must negotiate in good faith and all actors in region need to be involved,” he said adding that the Taliban also needs to cut ties with terrorist organizations.