US to start Afghan withdrawal with 5,000 troops out in 20 weeks

America has agreed in principle to withdraw 5,000 troops from five military bases in 20 weeks, in a deal with the Taliban to kick start talks with the Afghan government. The accord which could be announced as early as Wednesday would see US troops begin to pull back from their longest ever conflict, in return for a reduction in Taliban attacks and the start of formal negotiations with Ashraf Ghani's government. A large blast hit Kabul on Monday evening, close to a heavily fortified compound hous