Timeline for U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan

A historic peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban could see the withdrawal of all American and allied forces from Afghanistan within 14 months if the militants uphold the deal


Feb 29: Peace deal between U.S. and Taliban signed in Qatari capital, Doha

Mar 10: Deadline for prisoner swap – 5,000 Taliban fighters in exchange for 1,000 Afghan government captives – ahead of talks aimed at agreeing permanent ceasefire and power-sharing deal between rival Afghan groups

May 29: Removal of UN Security Council sanctions against Taliban members

Mid-Jun: Remaining prisoners to be released

July 13: U.S. to reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 from about 13,000, and close five unspecified military bases

Aug 27: Removal of U.S. sanctions against Taliban members

Apr 29, 2021: Withdrawal of all remaining U.S. and allied troops. Complete pullout would depend on Taliban meeting their commitments to prevent terrorism, including specific obligations to renounce Al Qaeda and prevent that group or others from using Afghan soil to plot attacks on U.S. or its allies


Control of Afghanistan’s districts (as of Feb 2020)

Taliban control
Unconfirmed Taliban control
Government control or undetermined
Contested

Kabul

200km 125 miles


Sources: AP, Long War Journal 
Picture: U.S. Department of Defence 
© GRAPHIC NEWS