U.S. troops were not in Afghanistan to unify that country, they accomplished their tasks, U.S. President Joe Biden said during a visit to the war gravesite at Arlington Cemetery.

"We went to Afghanistan for two reasons: to end Bin Laden, and also to make sure Afghanistan is no longer a safe haven for terrorists. From the beginning, I never thought we were there to somehow unify Afghanistan." - he said.

According to the president, the U.S. has achieved its goals.

Biden had earlier announced that U.S. troops in full strength would withdraw from Afghanistan by the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The gradual withdrawal will begin on May 1.

Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, NATO announced it would begin on May 1.