A US commander said the Pentagon has not received any order from President Donald Trump to withdraw troops from war-torn Afghanistan

Commander of the US Central Command, General Joseph Votel told members of the House Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing in Washington yesterday.

Gen Votel said his advice is that any decision to reduce forces in Afghanistan should be done in full consultation with its coalition partners, and of course the government of Afghanistan.

A high-level US team led by Special Representatives Zalmay Khalilzad is currently holding talks with the Taliban representatives in Qatar’s capital, Doha.

Trump had in December last year announced that the US would pull troops from Afghanistan.in the negotiation process.