![FILE PHOTO: U.S. troops patrol at an Afghan National Army (ANA) Base in Logar province, Afghanistan August 7, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani/File Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WC3KNGWXZJTJEMC76BCHIDFCPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e6c001bb1bcd8610ae1a0d99bcb56d19151048ee80c4ac626839967ecdcfd91&width=400&height=225)
US troops patrol at an Afghan army Base in Logar province on August 7, 2018. Reuters
US troops patrol at an Afghan army Base in Logar province on August 7, 2018. Reuters
Reports of US troop pullout catches Afghans by surprise
Neither government nor the Taliban expected Washington to act on stated intention to withdraw, expert says
Ruchi Kumar
22 December, 2018