Why Biden is pulling the US -- and NATO -- out of Afghanistan

The source says there has been a months-long consultation within the administration, and with allies, before reaching the decision to withdraw many of the remaining 2,500 US troops.

When asked whether the thousands of other NATO forces would stay to help the elected Afghan government and train the Afghan security forces, the source said, "I would not expect that, no.

and the United States does not walk back any commitment," adding, "If we withdraw May 1st, we would be in a shooting war with Taliban again, and that's not what we wanted."

Asked how they would make sure a full scale shooting war doesn't break out when the US leaves just a few months later, the source insisted US financial, diplomatic and humanitarian support to the Afghan government and its security forces would continue.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001, in retaliation for Al-Qaeda's attack on America, which was planned and executed in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.