Pentagon Planning for Possibility of Total Withdrawal From Afghanistan by May 2021

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs David Helvey testifies to Congress in Washington on Sept. 22, 2020. Alex Wong/Getty Images

U.S. military officials are planning out the possibility of fully withdrawing from Afghanistan by May of next year, a top official confirmed Tuesday, though Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has not yet issued orders for the total withdrawal.

U.S. officials are aiming at drawing down to 4,500 troops in the Central Asian country by late October or November.