<p>US President Joe Biden said Thursday it will be "hard" to meet the May 1 deadline to withdraw all American soldiers from Afghanistan as part of a Taliban deal, but stressed troops will not be there longterm.</p>.<p>"It is going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline in terms of tactical reasons. It's hard to get those troops out," Biden said in his first press conference since taking office on January 20.</p>.<p>"We will leave, the question is when we leave," he said. "But we're not staying a long time."</p>.<p>Asked whether he envisions US soldiers still in Afghanistan in 2022, the president said: "I can't picture that being the case."</p>.<p>Under an agreement negotiated by the Donald Trump administration, the United States is supposed to pull out all its troops by May 1 in a deal that saw the Taliban agree to peace talks with the administration of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/us-president-joe-biden-says-he-expects-to-run-for-reelection-in-2024-966553.html">US President Joe Biden says he expects to run for reelection in 2024</a></strong></p>.<p>Biden's acknowledgement comes one week after he said he was in the process of making a decision over the troops, and that a withdrawal on time "could happen, but it is tough."</p>.<p>Last week the Taliban warned there would be "consequences" if Washington did not stick to the agreed timetable -- further raising pressure on the fragile peace process.</p>.<p>On Thursday, Biden noted ongoing international discussions on Afghanistan, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meetings with NATO allies that have troops in Afghanistan.</p>.<p>"And if we leave, we're going to do so in a safe and orderly way," Biden said.</p>.<p>The Taliban have largely stuck to a promise not to attack US or other foreign troops since the agreement was struck in February last year, but they say the date to end America's longest war is inflexible.</p>.<p>The Taliban also vowed not to allow territory to be used by "terrorists" -- the original goal of the US invasion following the September 11, 2001 attacks.</p>.<p>But the supposed peace talks held in Qatar since September have made little progress.</p>
<p>US President Joe Biden said Thursday it will be "hard" to meet the May 1 deadline to withdraw all American soldiers from Afghanistan as part of a Taliban deal, but stressed troops will not be there longterm.</p>.<p>"It is going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline in terms of tactical reasons. It's hard to get those troops out," Biden said in his first press conference since taking office on January 20.</p>.<p>"We will leave, the question is when we leave," he said. "But we're not staying a long time."</p>.<p>Asked whether he envisions US soldiers still in Afghanistan in 2022, the president said: "I can't picture that being the case."</p>.<p>Under an agreement negotiated by the Donald Trump administration, the United States is supposed to pull out all its troops by May 1 in a deal that saw the Taliban agree to peace talks with the administration of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/us-president-joe-biden-says-he-expects-to-run-for-reelection-in-2024-966553.html">US President Joe Biden says he expects to run for reelection in 2024</a></strong></p>.<p>Biden's acknowledgement comes one week after he said he was in the process of making a decision over the troops, and that a withdrawal on time "could happen, but it is tough."</p>.<p>Last week the Taliban warned there would be "consequences" if Washington did not stick to the agreed timetable -- further raising pressure on the fragile peace process.</p>.<p>On Thursday, Biden noted ongoing international discussions on Afghanistan, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meetings with NATO allies that have troops in Afghanistan.</p>.<p>"And if we leave, we're going to do so in a safe and orderly way," Biden said.</p>.<p>The Taliban have largely stuck to a promise not to attack US or other foreign troops since the agreement was struck in February last year, but they say the date to end America's longest war is inflexible.</p>.<p>The Taliban also vowed not to allow territory to be used by "terrorists" -- the original goal of the US invasion following the September 11, 2001 attacks.</p>.<p>But the supposed peace talks held in Qatar since September have made little progress.</p>