Sunday, March 15, 2015

US troops to remain in Afghanistan into 2016


#ISIS #alqaeda #ustroops #afghanistan #counterterrorism The Obama administration had planned to cut the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to 5,500 by the end of the year but, this is being reversed so as to appease the military leaders who want to keep more troops into 2016. This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 15 March 2015.
As per the officials, the administration would go slow on the withdrawal of forces and, in all probability, would allow most of the 9,800 American troops to remain there v- a final decision has not yet been made.
Moreover, there are talks also to retain counterterrorism troops into 2015 and keep some in the country or be near Afghanistan in 2016. At present there are nearly 2,000 U.S. troops who conduct counterterrorism missions. The argument of military leaders is that they will be needed to carry on their efforts to pursue the remnants of al-Qaeda and to monitor the Islamic State.
It is a sensitive issue because Pentagon leaders, including Defense Secretary Ash Carter, have acknowledged the discussions about slowing the pace of troop withdrawal. However, they are of the opinion that the military will get its way and keep a robust force in Afghanistan beyond year's end.
In any case, the administration would not like to go beyond 2016 because President Obama had promised to remove all troops out of Afghanistan before the end of his presidency so as to end America’s longest war.
Of course, Afghan leaders have made it clear that they want U.S. troops to be in Afghanistan for as long as possible in view of the concerns raised by the growing threat of ISIS in Afghanistan.

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