Kabul, August 3 (RHC)-- The Washington Post reports that the Donald Trump administration is nearing a deal with the Taliban to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in exchange for a ceasefire. 

The agreement — which was described by unnamed administration officials — would also reportedly see the Taliban renounce its support for al-Qaeda.  In return, the U.S. would reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan from about 14,000 to somewhere less than 9,000 — roughly the size of the U.S. force in Afghanistan when Trump took office. 

This comes as the State Department is reportedly slashing its presence at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, with plans to cut half of all personnel by the end of September.