President Joe Biden has decided to withdraw the remaining US troops from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021, 20 years to the day after Al Qaida’s attacks triggered America’s longest war, US officials said on Tuesday.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken and US defence secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to brief the decision to Nato allies in Brussels on Wednesday. Biden may also publicly announce his decision, several sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“After a rigorous policy review, President Biden has decided to draw down the remaining troops in Afghanistan and finally end the US war there after 20 years,” a senior administration official said.