The general overseeing U.S. forces in the greater Middle East says the number of troops in Afghanistan has dropped to 8,600.
That is the level the United States agreed to reach by July as part of a deal with the Taliban.
Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of Central Command, said that by reducing to 8,600 troops, the United States has fulfilled its part of the February agreement.
He expressed doubt, however, about the wisdom of fully withdrawing from Afghanistan until the the Taliban meet their obligation not to allow any extremist group to use Afghan territory to plan or carry out attacks on the United States.
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