Last week, US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said the US would reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan from 4,500 down to 2,500 by year's end.
O'Brien added that the drawdown would take place, regardless of the conditions on the ground.
But on Sunday, America's most senior general publicly pushed back at O'Brien's remarks, calling them 'speculation.'
Robert O'Brien, or anyone else, can speculate as they see fit, I am not going to engage in speculation, I'm going to engage in the rigorous analysis of the situation based on the conditions and the plans that I'm aware of in my conversations with the President.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley
The mixed messages from the Pentagon and the White House come as the Taliban launched a major military offensive against the Afghan government.
The attack prompted US military aircraft to carry out a series of airstrikes against Taliban fighters in recent days.