WASHINGTON - The United States will keep its current level of 9,800 troops in Afghanistan through the end of the year, rather than reducing that number to 5,500 as planned, President Barack Obama announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The announcement was made at a White House Press conference which followed the US leader’s talks with the visiting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
President Ghani has requested that the US consider adjusting its troops withdrawal timeline, with greater support from US troops over the next few years during a transition to a complete withdrawal.
“The timeline for a withdrawal down to a Embassy center presence, a normalisation of our presence in Afghanistan, remains the end of 2016,” Obama said with Ghani at his side.
“Afghanistan remains a very dangerous place,” Obama said in explaining his decision to slow the withdrawal of US troops. Obama said that the size of the US troops presence for 2016 will be decided later this year. Ghani had asked Obama to slow the withdrawal because Afghan security forces are bracing for a tough spring fighting season.
This is Ghani’s first visit to the United States after his election some six months ago.
“This visit is an opportunity to begin a new chapter between our two nations,” Obama said after meeting with Ghani in the Oval Office.
On his part, Ghani tried to make the case that he’s a reliable partner worthy of American support, despite his fractured government and a litany of problems still rampant in Afghanistan’s military — illiteracy, drug abuse and desertions, to name a few.
Ghani, who is being given special treatment here, arrived at the White House, where a US military honour guard lined the driveway leading to the West Wing. Inside, he and Obama chatted casually and sat side by side as reporters were allowed briefly to observe the start of their meeting.
For Obama, officials said Ghani represents the last, best hope to make good on the President’s promise to end America’s longest war by the time he leaves office, keeping just a 1000 or so troops at the Embassy to coordinate security. Ghani predecessor Hamid Karzai’s relationship with the White House was dysfunctional.
“We do not now ask what the United States can do for us,” Ghani said, invoking John F. Kennedy as he opened his US visit earlier in the week. “We want to say what Afghanistan will do for itself and for the world.” Obama has promised to end the current military support mission- that began this January after the December 2014-end to the military combat launched in October 2001 in the aftermath of the 9/11 al-Qaeda terrorist attacks – would conclude by the time he leaves the White House upon completion of his second Presidential term.
“Providing this additional timeframe —- is well worth,” Obama said, explaining the rationale for keeping the current troops level in Afghanistan in consultation with his military commanders. The US would continue to advise and train Afghan security forces, and the goal is to ready 350,000 Afghan security forces. Amid concerns about the future international engagement with Afghanistan, President Obama said that the combat mission may have ended but the US “commitment to Afghan people will endure.” This flexibility reflects a reinvigorated partnership with Afghanistan, he said.
“We want the Afghan people — to be able to provide for their own security. At the start (of my term), we put additional troops and resources—- broke that (Taliban) momentum—— we are continue to provide training and support (for a modern Afghan security force) – and building up opportunities for the Afghan people through economic development. We intend to work with the Afghan people for a long time.” For his part, Afghan President Ghani, who was accompanied by Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah during the White House meetings,expressed a profound sense of gratitude to the Americans for their economic support and sacrifices of the US soldiers in support of Afghanistan’s security and stability.
“The US considers Afghanistan a reliable partner, the commitments are considerable,” he said, welcoming the flexibility shown by President Obama.
Agencies add: Earlier, both countries turned the page on years of distrust, mapping out a new vision for future ties as Washington vowed to fund Afghan forces through 2017 to help shore up stability.
Hailing a day of “productive talks,” top US diplomat John Kerry said the two countries shared “a commitment to security and peace and a desire to promote prosperity and social progress.”
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had warmly thanked US troops for more than a decade of sacrifice since the 2001 overthrow of Taliban rule by a US-led invasion.
“We do not now ask what the United States can do for us. We want to say what Afghanistan will do for itself and for the world,” said Ghani, turning around a famous phrase of former US leader John F. Kennedy.
“And that means we are going to put our house in order,” he told soldiers and senior US officials at a Pentagon ceremony on his first official visit to Washington.
With the end of the US combat mission in 2014, Afghan forces have taken over responsibility for security across the war-torn nation, still wracked by a stubborn militant insurgency.
With the spring fighting season looming, Ghani has asked for some “flexibility” as the US prepares to pull out the remaining 10,000 American troops by the end of 2016, drawing them down to about 5,500 by the end of this year.
The announcement was made at a White House Press conference which followed the US leader’s talks with the visiting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
President Ghani has requested that the US consider adjusting its troops withdrawal timeline, with greater support from US troops over the next few years during a transition to a complete withdrawal.
“The timeline for a withdrawal down to a Embassy center presence, a normalisation of our presence in Afghanistan, remains the end of 2016,” Obama said with Ghani at his side.
“Afghanistan remains a very dangerous place,” Obama said in explaining his decision to slow the withdrawal of US troops. Obama said that the size of the US troops presence for 2016 will be decided later this year. Ghani had asked Obama to slow the withdrawal because Afghan security forces are bracing for a tough spring fighting season.
This is Ghani’s first visit to the United States after his election some six months ago.
“This visit is an opportunity to begin a new chapter between our two nations,” Obama said after meeting with Ghani in the Oval Office.
On his part, Ghani tried to make the case that he’s a reliable partner worthy of American support, despite his fractured government and a litany of problems still rampant in Afghanistan’s military — illiteracy, drug abuse and desertions, to name a few.
Ghani, who is being given special treatment here, arrived at the White House, where a US military honour guard lined the driveway leading to the West Wing. Inside, he and Obama chatted casually and sat side by side as reporters were allowed briefly to observe the start of their meeting.
For Obama, officials said Ghani represents the last, best hope to make good on the President’s promise to end America’s longest war by the time he leaves office, keeping just a 1000 or so troops at the Embassy to coordinate security. Ghani predecessor Hamid Karzai’s relationship with the White House was dysfunctional.
“We do not now ask what the United States can do for us,” Ghani said, invoking John F. Kennedy as he opened his US visit earlier in the week. “We want to say what Afghanistan will do for itself and for the world.” Obama has promised to end the current military support mission- that began this January after the December 2014-end to the military combat launched in October 2001 in the aftermath of the 9/11 al-Qaeda terrorist attacks – would conclude by the time he leaves the White House upon completion of his second Presidential term.
“Providing this additional timeframe —- is well worth,” Obama said, explaining the rationale for keeping the current troops level in Afghanistan in consultation with his military commanders. The US would continue to advise and train Afghan security forces, and the goal is to ready 350,000 Afghan security forces. Amid concerns about the future international engagement with Afghanistan, President Obama said that the combat mission may have ended but the US “commitment to Afghan people will endure.” This flexibility reflects a reinvigorated partnership with Afghanistan, he said.
“We want the Afghan people — to be able to provide for their own security. At the start (of my term), we put additional troops and resources—- broke that (Taliban) momentum—— we are continue to provide training and support (for a modern Afghan security force) – and building up opportunities for the Afghan people through economic development. We intend to work with the Afghan people for a long time.” For his part, Afghan President Ghani, who was accompanied by Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah during the White House meetings,expressed a profound sense of gratitude to the Americans for their economic support and sacrifices of the US soldiers in support of Afghanistan’s security and stability.
“The US considers Afghanistan a reliable partner, the commitments are considerable,” he said, welcoming the flexibility shown by President Obama.
Agencies add: Earlier, both countries turned the page on years of distrust, mapping out a new vision for future ties as Washington vowed to fund Afghan forces through 2017 to help shore up stability.
Hailing a day of “productive talks,” top US diplomat John Kerry said the two countries shared “a commitment to security and peace and a desire to promote prosperity and social progress.”
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had warmly thanked US troops for more than a decade of sacrifice since the 2001 overthrow of Taliban rule by a US-led invasion.
“We do not now ask what the United States can do for us. We want to say what Afghanistan will do for itself and for the world,” said Ghani, turning around a famous phrase of former US leader John F. Kennedy.
“And that means we are going to put our house in order,” he told soldiers and senior US officials at a Pentagon ceremony on his first official visit to Washington.
With the end of the US combat mission in 2014, Afghan forces have taken over responsibility for security across the war-torn nation, still wracked by a stubborn militant insurgency.
With the spring fighting season looming, Ghani has asked for some “flexibility” as the US prepares to pull out the remaining 10,000 American troops by the end of 2016, drawing them down to about 5,500 by the end of this year.
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