Taliban reject Trump's suggestion of lingering U.S. counter-terrorism presence

Head of Political Office of the Taliban Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanakzai speaks at a conference arranged by the Afghan diaspora, in Moscow, Russia February 5, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

KABUL (Reuters) - The Taliban reiterated on Wednesday their long-held demand that all foreign troops get out of Afghanistan, rejecting a suggestion by U.S. President Donald Trump of a lingering U.S. focus on counter-terrorism after troops are drawn down.

Trump used his State of the Union address to stress the importance of accelerated talks with the hardline Islamist movement to end the longest of America's "endless wars".