Fact_ur_mine
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WASHINGTON: The United States remains committed to a strategy to draw down US forces in Afghanistan starting next July but is studying the “pace” of the transition, a senior official said Tuesday.
US President Barack Obama “has been clear that we will begin in July of 2011 a responsible transition to Afghan security forces from American combat forces,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
“What’s not clear…is the pace of that transition. And the degree to which (US troops are withdrawn) and how far we go how fast.”
The official said an annual review of the US strategy is being prepared which “will help the president and his national security team make assessment about the pace of the transition that begins next summer.”
The official told journalists that the report for the president would likely be ready in late December or early January.
The review comes nearly a year after Obama ordered an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in an effort to crush the Taliban offensive, a plan that called for a transition away from US forces starting in mid-2011.
The Afghan war is also likely to be high on the agenda at the Lisbon summit of Nato, according to the official.
“We think that Nato, in the collective sense, and other countries, that include the United States, will move to establish and define an enduring commitment, enduring partnerships with Afghanistan,” the official said.
“We think that it will help put in place a process by which over the next several years, Afghans will assume the security lead across their country.”
The White House has backed Afghan efforts to talk with elements of the Taliban, even as the US military ratchets up the intensity of the surge and insurgent attacks reap a heavy toll among foreign troops.
More than 150,000 US and international troops are now in Afghanistan, with their number boosted by the surge strategy which Obama announced last year and which is now reaching its peak.
When he announced the new plan in December, Obama also insisted that the first US troops would start coming home by July 2011, as part of a speeded up effort to transfer authority to Afghan troops and political leaders.
US eyes strategy for Afghanistan transition, withdrawal Latest news, breaking news, world news, international news and current affairs
It would be interesting to see change of policies after july 2011.
US President Barack Obama “has been clear that we will begin in July of 2011 a responsible transition to Afghan security forces from American combat forces,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
“What’s not clear…is the pace of that transition. And the degree to which (US troops are withdrawn) and how far we go how fast.”
The official said an annual review of the US strategy is being prepared which “will help the president and his national security team make assessment about the pace of the transition that begins next summer.”
The official told journalists that the report for the president would likely be ready in late December or early January.
The review comes nearly a year after Obama ordered an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in an effort to crush the Taliban offensive, a plan that called for a transition away from US forces starting in mid-2011.
The Afghan war is also likely to be high on the agenda at the Lisbon summit of Nato, according to the official.
“We think that Nato, in the collective sense, and other countries, that include the United States, will move to establish and define an enduring commitment, enduring partnerships with Afghanistan,” the official said.
“We think that it will help put in place a process by which over the next several years, Afghans will assume the security lead across their country.”
The White House has backed Afghan efforts to talk with elements of the Taliban, even as the US military ratchets up the intensity of the surge and insurgent attacks reap a heavy toll among foreign troops.
More than 150,000 US and international troops are now in Afghanistan, with their number boosted by the surge strategy which Obama announced last year and which is now reaching its peak.
When he announced the new plan in December, Obama also insisted that the first US troops would start coming home by July 2011, as part of a speeded up effort to transfer authority to Afghan troops and political leaders.
US eyes strategy for Afghanistan transition, withdrawal Latest news, breaking news, world news, international news and current affairs
It would be interesting to see change of policies after july 2011.
