Afghanistan's war

Taliban: Half of US troops to leave Afghanistan by May 1

A Taliban official said Wednesday that the United States has promised to withdraw half of its troops from Afghanistan by the end of April, but the U.S. military said it has received no orders to begin packing up.

Taliban official Abdul Salam Hanafi, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting in Moscow between prominent Afghan figures and Taliban representatives, said officials promised the pullout will begin this month.

“The Americans told us that from the beginning of February to the end of April, half of the troops from Afghanistan will be withdrawn,” Hanafi said.

However, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Rob Manning said American defense officials had not received orders to start withdrawing.

"Peace talks with the Taliban continue, but (the Defense Department) has not received a directive to change the force structure in Afghanistan," Manning said.

Hanafi said both the U.S. and the Taliban would create technical committees that "will work on a timetable for the withdrawal of remaining troops."