The US Defense Secretary Mark Esper says the start of an American troop withdrawal has approved even as the Taliban's announcement to continue attacks against Afghan forces.

Speaking at a Pentagon news conference, Esper said he wasn't sure if the drawdown had begun, but he said it must start within 10 days of the US-Taliban peace agreement.

Mark Esper said joint declaration on bringing peace to Afghanistan was an important first step toward a political solution to end the war in Afghanistan.

He said the U.S. commander in Kabul, General Scott Miller, will begin the withdrawal to about 8,600 troops from the current total of nearly 13,000, and then will stop and assess conditions.

US Defense Secretary said the U.S. expects violence will “taper off,” leading to a start by March 10 of peace negotiations among Afghan groups, including the Taliban.

He said this is going to be a long, windy, bumpy road with ups and downs, and we’ll and stop and start.