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US troops will end 'most' Afghanistan combat this spring US troops will end 'most' Afghanistan combat this spring
(35 minutes later)
US troops in Afghanistan will end "most" combat operations this spring, US President Barack Obama and Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai have said. US troops in Afghanistan will end "most" combat operations this spring, US President Barack Obama and Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai have agreed.
They said US troops were expected to switch to a support role, slightly earlier than originally scheduled, as Afghan forces take the security lead. American forces are expected to switch to a support role, slightly earlier than originally scheduled, as Afghan troops take the security lead.
The two leaders also backed the holding of talks in Doha, Qatar, between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The two leaders also backed the holding of talks in Doha, Qatar, between the Afghan government and Taliban leaders.
Most of the 66,000 US troops in Afghanistan are due to leave in 2014.Most of the 66,000 US troops in Afghanistan are due to leave in 2014.
"Starting this spring, our troops will have a different mission - training, advising, assisting Afghan forces," Mr Obama said in remarks at White House, as Mr Karzai stood alongside. "It will be an historic moment and another step toward full Afghan sovereignty." "Starting this spring, our troops will have a different mission - training, advising, assisting Afghan forces," Mr Obama said in remarks at the White House on Friday, as Mr Karzai stood alongside.
The transition of US troops to a support role by this spring would be a little earlier than the mid-2013 deadline agreed at a Nato summit in Chicago last year. "It will be a historic moment and another step toward full Afghan sovereignty."
A joint statement issued by the leaders during Friday's meeting raised the possibility that some troops could stay after the end of the next year, but did not discuss numbers. The presidents also agreed that the US would hand over custody of prisoners to the Afghan government, a step Mr Karzai said was critical for his country's sovereignty.
Mr Karzai and Mr Obama committed to crafting a bilateral security agreement "as soon as possible" and "discussed the possibility of a post-2014 US presence that is sustainable, that supports a capable and effective Afghan National Security Force, and that continues to pressure the remnants of al-Qaeda and its affiliates". The transition of US troops to a support role by this spring would be several months earlier than the mid-2013 deadline agreed at a Nato summit in Chicago last year.
Mr Obama said US troops could remain in Afghanistan in that support role beyond 2014 only at the invitation of the Afghan government and only under an agreement guaranteeing them immunity from Afghan law.
But he reiterated the US goal of destroying the remnant of al-Qaeda, and said the US had come close to achieving that.
"I'm very happy to hear from the president as we also discussed earlier that in spring this year, the Afghan forces will be fully responsible for providing security and protection to the Afghan people," Mr Karzai said.
"And that the international forces, the American forces, will be no longer present in the villages, that it will be the task of the Afghan forces to provide for the Afghan people in security and protection."
Mr Karzai and Mr Obama committed to crafting a bilateral security agreement as soon as possible.
US commanders have suggested leaving between 6,000 and 15,000 troops in Afghanistan to pursue insurgents and train Afghan security forces.US commanders have suggested leaving between 6,000 and 15,000 troops in Afghanistan to pursue insurgents and train Afghan security forces.
Mr Obama reaffirmed that the US seeks no permanent bases in Afghanistan, the statement added. Mr Obama said on Friday that he would review recommendations from US military commanders before making a decision, as he reaffirmed that the US sought no permanent bases in Afghanistan.
"President Obama reaffirmed the United States' respect for Afghanistan's sovereignty and reiterated that as Afghanistan takes full responsibility for its security and development, the US continues to be committed to supporting the Afghan people," the presidents said. In a joint statement following their meeting, Mr Obama and Mr Karzai said the training and progress of Afghan security forces had exceeded expectations.
They now lead about 80% of operations and by February are expected to have a lead in securing 90% of the Afghan population, the statement said.
Also on Friday, Mr Karzai confirmed he would step down from the presidency, as expected, at the end of his term in 2014.
"The greatest of my achievements eventually, seen by the Afghan people, will be a proper, well-organized, interference-free election in which the Afghan people can elect their next president," he said.
"And certainly I will be a retired president, and very happily a retired president."