WHITE HOUSE-U.S. President Barack Obama’s plan to maintain 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan through the end of his presidency leaves many unanswered questions about the best path forward as the security situation continues to worsen, experts said.
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He said the USA mission would remain narrowly focused on “training and advising” Afghan forces and supporting counter-terrorism operations against the remnants of al Qaida, the group that attacked the U.S. on September 11 2001.
“When the President himself describes the security situation in Afghanistan as ‘precarious, ‘ it is hard to discern any strategic rationale for withdrawing 1,400 USA troops by the end of the year”, McCain said.
A president who came into office promising to end the wars he inherited, has instead found himself wrestling with continued conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan and new hostilities in Syria and Libya.
In a conference call with reporters to discuss the announcement, senior administration officials said the revised troop number, a slight decrease from the current level, reflected recommendations from the us commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John “Mick” Nicholson Jr.
However, the recent announcement is consistent with the previously declared United States plan.
In response to Obama’s announcement, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told Al Jazeera: “Whether the U.S. decides to keep [its] troops in Afghanistan or not, whether the numbers are more or less, we will continue to fight them”. But he acknowledged that security concerns persist, which senators insisted required a greater military presence.
They have suffered devastating setbacks at the hands of the Taliban, including the temporary loss of the northern city of Kunduz, and more than 5,000 Afghan troops killed a year ago alone.
His decision fixes the number of troops who will remain in Afghanistan through the end of his presidency. Around 10,000 troops remain in the country, and it was earlier planned that only 5,500 would be there at the end of this year.
Republican lawmakers have urged Obama to keep in place all of the almost 10,000 USA forces tasked with advising and training the Afghan military and conducting counterterrorism operations.
Though U.S. officials said Obama had accepted the Pentagon’s formal recommendation of 8,400 troops, top military leaders had urged the White House to stay closer to the current 9,800. “You’ve been unable to prevail”, Obama said. “The decision made by the US president will help Afghanistan, but it will also help the world”, Radmanish said.
Flanked by his secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President Obama announced that he was once again slowing the withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan.
“Even as they improve, Afghanistan security forces are still not as strong as they need to be”, President Obama said. 8,400 troops will remain in Afghanistan indefinitely.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has welcomed US President Barack Obama’s decision to maintain the bulk of American troops in Afghanistan.
“So long as the Taliban has sanctuaries in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, and so long as economic malaise, rampant corruption, and violent militias make life so miserable for ordinary Afghans that some view the Taliban as a better alternative to the government, then war will continue – no matter how many US troops remain”, wrote Kugelman in an article for The Wall Street Journal.
Other organisations, including the Islamic State group, have also stepped up activity.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter recommended the move, saying it will “enhance our ability to continue progress on our two central missions in Afghanistan: strengthening Afghan forces so they can secure their nation and prevent its use as a safe haven for terrorists”.
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For all of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries that are in Afghanistan, the key issue often isn’t as much USA strategy as it is, Is the US staying? suggested Cordesman.
