U.S. to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in 14 months if Taliban conditions met

U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Chris Sanderson, 24, from Flemington, New Jersey shouts as he tries to protect an Afghan man and his child after Taliban fighters opened fire in the town of Marjah, in Nad Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan on February 13, 2010. (REUTERS File Photo)

February 29 (Reuters): The United States and NATO would withdraw all troops in Afghanistan within 14 months if the Taliban upheld its commitments, according to a joint statement released by the U.S. and Afghan governments on Saturday.

"The Coalition will complete the withdrawal of their remaining forces from Afghanistan within 14 months following the announcement of this joint declaration and the U.S.-Taliban agreement...subject to the Taliban's fulfillment of its commitments under the U.S.-Taliban agreement," the statement said.

The U.S. would initially reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 within 135 days of the U.S.-Taliban agreement, which was set to be signed in the Qatari capital of Doha in the afternoon.