Speaking from the White House, Obama said the decision was necessary because security in Afghanistan remained precarious and Taliban forces had gained ground in some places.
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Asked Wednesday how the White House plans to account for the additional cost of the troops, a senior Administration official said that the Administration will work with Congress to reconcile the cost. That will be a reduction of 1,400 from the 9,800 who are now in Afghanistan.
The Taliban in Afghanistan say President Barack Obama’s decision to leave more troops in Afghanistan will only prolong the fighting there.
Upon taking command of coalition forces in Afghanistan this spring, General Nicholson conducted a review of the security situation in Afghanistan and submitted his report to the White House in June according to the Pentagon.
Violence in Afghanistan and the still-uneven skills of Afghan National Security Forces make conditions too “precarious” to withdraw U.S. troops as rapidly as originally envisioned, President Obama conceded Wednesday. Over the past year – since it announced the death of its former leader Mullah Mohammed Omar – the Taliban has intensified bombings and large-scale assaults on security forces in the country, shunning peace talks with the Afghan government. Obama repeated his vow that he would not allow Afghanistan to be used as a safe haven for terrorists.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed Obama’s decision, saying on Twitter that it shows “continued partnership [between] our nations to pursue our common interests”. Obama took office in 2009 pledging to wind down the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I think the next president of the United States must reverse the decisions President Obama has made in the last eight years”, McCain said.
President Barack Obama again stalled the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, announcing on Wednesday that he plans to keep 8,400 American troops there through the remainder of his presidency.
“Based on operational security concerns and in an effort not to compromise any future efforts, we won’t be able to provide the future timeline, disposition of, or impact on, any specific capabilities”, Cleveland said. The Afghan security forces have more than 320,000 members and they are providing security for the people.
Mr. Obama said the decision, which will reduce the USA force from the current 9,800 troops, won’t alter the soldiers’ narrow missions of training and advising Afghan security forces, and waging counterterrorism operations. Obama’s presidency ends in January.
Most of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation troops in Afghanistan are working as advisors to local Afghan security forces. Last month, more than a dozen former US ambassadors and commanders in Afghanistan publicly urged him to “freeze” the current level for the rest of his term and let the next president make any adjustments. The self-styled Islamic State group has also established a small presence.
According to recent United Nations estimates, the extremist group now controls more territory in Afghanistan than at any time since the US -led invasion of the country in 2001. They included Gen. John F. Campbell, who had been the top US commander in Kabul until four months ago, and retired Gen. David Petraeus.
“When we first sent our forces into Afghanistan 14 years ago”, he added, “few Americans imagined we’d be there – in any capacity – this long”.
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Gen. John Campbell, who was the top US commander in Afghanistan until March, warned Congress earlier this year that reducing the number too sharply would make it tougher to train Afghan forces and perform counterterrorism operations at the same time.
