Under current plans, the United States will draw-down its troop numbers by the end of 2016 from about 10,000 currently to a crew of only about 1,000.
Echoing remarks he made at a NATO meeting in Brussels last week, Carter said it was important for the United States “to formulate options for 2016 and beyond and make adjustments to the planned US presence based on current circumstances.”
The Obama administration has come under criticism for its planned withdrawal of forces, with opponents saying the move opens up Afghanistan to more attacks by the Taliban, who just two weeks ago captured the city of Kunduz.
A swift response by US-trained Afghan security forces led to an eventual Taliban retreat.
“It’s important to say these things because the narrative that we’re leaving Afghanistan is self-defeating,” Carter told an Army conference in Washington.
“We’re not, we can’t, and to do so would not be to take advantage of the success we’ve had to date.”
NATO forces have been in Afghanistan since 2001.
Though the United States represents by far the largest contingent, Carter last week said several NATO defense ministers told him they were open to modifications to current plans.
(AFP)
i24news.tv
15/10/15
--
-
Related:
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
The United States is to extend its military presence in Afghanistan beyond 2016, administration officials say...
ReplyDeletePresident Barack Obama will outline the plans later. They are expected to include keeping 5,500 troops in the country when he leaves office in 2017.
Originally all but a small embassy-based force were due to leave by the end of next year.
But the US military says more troops will be needed to help Afghan forces counter a growing Taliban threat.
There are currently 9,800 US troops stationed in Afghanistan. Last week, the top US military commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Campbell, said the US must consider extending its military presence there beyond 2016.
The US forces will be stationed in four locations - in Kabul, Bagram, Jalalabad and Kandahar............http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34536833
Obama breaks his promise to end Afghanistan war ...
ReplyDeleteU.S. President Barack Obama announced plans Thursday to keep 5,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan into 2017, and to maintain the current 9,800 U.S. force through most of 2016, retreating from his campaign pledge to pull troops from Afghanistan during his tenure.
"First, I have decided to maintain our current posture of 9,800 troops in Afghanistan through most of next year, 2016," Obama made the announcement at the White House, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joseph Dunford.
The president said the Afghan military has made gains but is still not as strong as it needs to be. He also argued that "in key areas of" Afghanistan, "the security situation is still very fragile, and in some places there is risk of deterioration."
"Second, I've decided that instead of going down to a normal embassy presence in Kabul by the end of 2016, we will maintain 5,500 troops, including at Bagram, Jalalabad in the east, and Kandahar in the south."
Calling the new plan "modest but meaningful", Obama noted that the U.S. troops in Afghanistan will still "focus on training Afghans and counterterrorism operations," which is mainly about "going after Al Qaida."
"Thirdly, we will work with allies and partners to align the steps I'm announcing today with their own presence in Afghanistan after 2016," Obama said, the U.S. will also continue to support Afghan government "as they pursue critical reforms".
Obama said that the adjustment made after "consultations with entire national security team," "international partners and members of Congress" as well as Afghan leaders, and it is "the best possibility for a lasting progress in Afghanistan"..............http://www.china.org.cn/world/2015-10/16/content_36820903.htm
16/10/15