U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, said Monday there is nothing more to be gained by a continued troop presence in Afghanistan.

Kind, speaking at a La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast, was asked about the situation in Afghanistan following Sunday’s shooting in which an American soldier opened fire and killed 16 Afghan civilians.

The killings came after recent tensions and violence that left six U.S. service members killed by Afghan colleagues.

If the troops can’t trust their allies, the situation must be changed, Kind said.

“It’s time,” Kind said. “I’m not sure what more we can ask of our troops. We could be there for 50 more years and not have much different results.”

Kind said troops can be withdrawn while still protecting American interests in the region.

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