Afghanistan to have 8,400 US troops: Obama

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on Wednesday said he will leave behind 3,000 more troops in Afghanistan than originally planned, raising the number to 8,400 in total by the end of his administration.

Earlier, the administration had decided to keep the target at 5,500 troops, but because “the security situation in Afghanistan remains precarious,” and there’re threats from the Taliban and attempts from al-Qaeda to regroup and ISIS to gain hold, the new troops level will be at 8,400.

Speaking from the White House, President Obama said: “I strongly believe it is in our national security interest ... that we give our Afghan partners the best opportunities to succeed.”

Experts believe that the decision means that Obama will hand responsibility for America’s longest war over to his successor. 

“We have to deal with the realities of the world as it is. We can’t forget what’s at stake in Afghanistan. This is where al-Qaeda is trying to regroup, this is where ISIL continues to try to expand its presence,” Obama said.

He also noted that American forces were no longer engaged in a major land war in Afghanistan, and the mission will remain to provide support to the Afghan security forces.  

“Compared to the 100,000 troops we once had there, today, fewer than 10,000 remain. And compared to their previous mission, helping to lead the fight, our forces are now focused on two narrow missions: training and advising Afghan forces and supporting counter terrorist operations against the remnants of al Qaeda as well as other terrorist groups, including ISIL,” Obama said.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who visited Afghanistan last week and had been advocating for troop increase, reacted saying that 8,400 troop was high risk and unnecessary but better than the previous number. He said deteriorating conditions support keeping at least current level of 9,800 troops.

Senior White House officials also believed that the only way out of Afghanistan was to conduct a successful reconciliation process. 

Bringing Pakistan into the mix, the official emphasized that Pakistan has gone offensive but the presence of terrorist network in the region was till worrisome for which Pakistan needs to have a political resolution. Pakistan needs to go after terrorist networks and fully support the Afghan reconciliation.

The administration officials also asked Pakistan to have continued pressure on such networks to come to table and hold peace talks with the Afghans.