Pentagon has said it is premature to talk about Unites States’ counter-terrorism presence in Afghanistan; The statement came even as talks with the Taliban is believed to have entered its last phase.

General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the United States doesn’t want Afghanistan to be a sanctuary from which the homeland, the American people and its allies can be threatened.

The US want peace and stability in Afghanistan for the Afghan people and what is required is a negotiated peace settlement in the Afghan dialogue, leading to that peace settlement.