Obama Approves 8,400 US Troops To Remain In Afghanistan Until 2017
MEP: The US President Barack Obama has announced Wednesday that about 8,400 troops will remain in Afghanistan until 2017 in confrontation with the armed Taliban groups.
Obama said a still “precarious” security situation in Afghanistan has made this decision to be taken.
“It is in our national security interest, especially after all the blood and treasure we’ve invested in Afghanistan over the years, that we give our Afghan partners the very best opportunity to succeed,” he added.
The United States had however planned to pull out the number of its troops in the country to 5,500 by the end of the year. There are currently 9,800 U.S. troops in the country.
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has reportedly welcomed Mr Obama’s decision saying “this decision represents a continuation of cooperation between the two countries in order to pursue common interests”.
The decision by President Obama was made after consulting with the new U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen. John Nicholson; his national security team; Congress and allies, the Defense Department said.
Meanwhile, the armed Taliban’s spokesman scorned Obama’s decision saying “the more American invaders in Afghanistan, the more casualties they will suffer,” Zabiullah Mujahidd twitted on his Twitter page.
