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US to keep 9,800 Afghanistan troops after 2014 US to keep 9,800 Afghanistan troops after 2014
(35 minutes later)
President Barack Obama is seeking to keep 9,800 US troops in Afghanistan after the US ends its combat mission in the country at the end of this year. The US will keep 9,800 troops in Afghanistan after the US concludes its combat mission at the end of this year, President Barack Obama has said.
The US plan would reduce its current force of 32,000 by the end of 2014, halve that next year and remove nearly all troops by the end of 2016. Under the plan he announced at the White House, the US will continue to withdraw troops until only a small residual force remains after 2016.
The remaining US military presence would train Afghan forces and support counter-terrorism operations. The remaining troops would guard the US embassy, train Afghan forces and support counter-terrorism operations.
But the plan depends on the Afghans signing a joint security agreement.But the plan depends on the Afghans signing a joint security agreement.
While current Afghan President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign such an agreement, the Obama administration appears to be confident either of the two candidates seeking to replace him would do so.While current Afghan President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign such an agreement, the Obama administration appears to be confident either of the two candidates seeking to replace him would do so.
The president spoke to Mr Karzai by telephone to update him on the US plans, a White House official said. "This year, we will bring America's longest war to its responsible end," Mr Obama said.
Mr Obama's intended troop numbers are largely in line with what military commanders have been asking for and means he will leave office with the longest war in American history over. 'Hard-earned peace'
He is to make a statement on his plans in a White House address at 14:45 local time (18:45 GMT). The troop numbers Mr Obama announced are largely in line with what military commanders have been asking for. His announcement indicates the longest war in American history - launched by President George W Bush following the 11 September 2001 terror attacks - will end by the time he leaves office.
He confirmed the US would seek to have 9,800 troops across Afghanistan at the beginning of 2015, but that number would be reduced by about half by the end of the year and would be concentrated in Kabul and at Bagram Air Force Base.
"We will no longer patrol Afghan cities and towns, mountains or valleys," Mr Obama said. "That is a task for the Afghan people."
By 2016, the US president said, the military will draw down to a "normal embassy presence" with an additional security detail, "just as we've done in Iraq".
Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News, WashingtonRajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News, Washington
It was always expected that the US would keep a force of around 10,000 in Afghanistan after the war formally ends. But can this increased presence continue the aims that America's longest war began with - containing the threat from al-Qaeda?It was always expected that the US would keep a force of around 10,000 in Afghanistan after the war formally ends. But can this increased presence continue the aims that America's longest war began with - containing the threat from al-Qaeda?
These remaining troops will provide training for Afghan forces, and also target the core remnants of al-Qaeda. Just how they will achieve the latter is the trickier question for the president, and one which requires co-operation from the Afghan government.These remaining troops will provide training for Afghan forces, and also target the core remnants of al-Qaeda. Just how they will achieve the latter is the trickier question for the president, and one which requires co-operation from the Afghan government.
The US has yet to get the Afghan government to sign a bilateral security agreement, something this current plan depends on. But with a new Afghan president due to be elected soon, one of the biggest obstacles to this, President Karzai, will no longer be in the way.The US has yet to get the Afghan government to sign a bilateral security agreement, something this current plan depends on. But with a new Afghan president due to be elected soon, one of the biggest obstacles to this, President Karzai, will no longer be in the way.
The news will not affect the timetable for UK soldiers coming home, and all British troops are due to leave by the end of this year, the BBC has learnt. "We have to recognise Afghanistan will not be a perfect place - and it is not America's responsibly to make it one," Mr Obama said. But he added the US would help Afghans secure a "hard-earned peace".
At the weekend, President Obama paid a surprise visit to US troops in Afghanistan and on Monday at a Memorial Day ceremony he paid tribute to the more than 2,000 soldiers who have lost their lives in the country's longest war.
The BBC's Mark Mardell, in Washington, says the announcement comes as Mr Obama finds himself under attack for a "weak" foreign policy, and as the president prepares to make a major speech on Wednesday setting out how he sees the country's place in the world post-Iraq and Afghanistan.
Initially, the US military presence would continue around the country in 2015, but be halved by the end of the year and consolidated around Kabul.
After 2016, the US would seek to keep 1,000 military members to staff a security office.
Afghanistan's run-off election between Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani to replace Mr Karzai is set for 14 June.Afghanistan's run-off election between Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani to replace Mr Karzai is set for 14 June.
Mr Obama noted on Tuesday that both have said they would sign a security agreement with the US.
The US plan will not affect the timetable for UK soldiers coming home, and all British troops are due to leave by the end of this year, the BBC has learnt.
At the weekend, President Obama paid a surprise visit to US troops in Afghanistan and on Monday at a Memorial Day ceremony he paid tribute to the more than 2,000 soldiers who have lost their lives in the country's longest war.