Much of the Russian recruiting effort is focused on Iran's capital Tehran and Mashhad, a city near the Afghanistan border where many had fled after the Taliban took over the country, veteran Afghan generals say.
Nearly 50 attacks have been launched against US interests in Iraq since the start of the year, prompting Washington to offer up to $3 million for information about the perpetrators.
Countries to which evacuees could be flown include United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait, US official says as Taliban presses a major offensive in northern Afghanistan.
The withdrawal of troops marks the end of one of America’s longest military engagements but the social, economic and security situation in the country remains dire.
US diplomats have been holding talks with Taliban representatives for months about a plan to withdraw thousands of American troops in exchange for security guarantees by the Taliban.
The annual spring offensive traditionally marks the start of the so-called fighting season, though the announcement is largely symbolic as in recent winters the Taliban have continued fighting Afghan and US forces.
The US president's comments come after his National Security Adviser John Bolton's appeared to contradict Trump's exit plan, tying it to several conditions.
The Taliban say the Afghan Haqqani network founder, Jalaluddin Haqqani, has died after years of ill health.
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