US forces in Afghanistan reduced to less than 10,000 troops
April 26 TOI
The number of US troops in Afghanistan may drop well below 10,000 -
the minimum demanded by the US military to train Afghan forces as the
longest war in American history winds down, Obama administration
officials briefed on the matter say. Since Afghanistan's general
election on April 5, White House, State Department and Pentagon
officials have resumed discussions on how many American troops should
remain after the current US-led coalition ends its mission this year.
The decision to consider a small force, possibly less than 5,000 US
troops, reflects a belief among White House officials that Afghan
security forces have evolved into a robust enough force to contain a
still-potent Taliban-led insurgency.
The small US force that would remain could focus on counter-terrorism
or training operations. That belief, the officials say, is based partly
on Afghanistan's surprisingly smooth election, which has won
international praise for its high turnout, estimated at 60 percent of 12
million eligible votes, and the failure of Taliban militants to stage
high-profile attacks that day. The Obama administration has been looking
at options for a possible residual US force for months. The discussion
is very much alive,” said one US official who asked not to be
identified. |