![An Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier stands during the Eid al-Adha festival near the old fortress of Bala Hissar in Kabul on August 11, 2019. Afghans have started celebrating Eid al-Adha or "Feast of the Sacrifice", which marks the end of the annual Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca and is celebrated in remembrance of Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to God. / AFP / WAKIL KOHSAR](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MIPOSNFEDYKCNQ447GLJ3MTFPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0cb5a1245d42acdf655de9d4d76fb72406094d9e35bd71ca9e92b484fc0759c4&width=400&height=225)
An Afghan soldier stands outside the old fortress of Bala Hissar in Kabul on August 11, 2019. AFP
An Afghan soldier stands outside the old fortress of Bala Hissar in Kabul on August 11, 2019. AFP
Afghan government seeks guarantees from US ahead of troop withdrawal
Kabul hopes Americans will stop short of complete pull-out
Hikmat Noori
13 August, 2019