Sep. 29, 2014
U.S. soldiers patrol an Afghanistan highway on Aug. 11 in Parwan province. The U.S. and Afghanistan expect to sign an agreement to keep about 10,000 American troops there after combat operations end at the close of this year, an Obama aide said. (Cpl. George Huley / Army)
WASHINGTON — The United States and Afghanistan will sign a long-delayed security agreement Tuesday that will allow about 9,800 American troops to remain in the country past this year, a U.S. official said.
White House senior adviser John Podesta on Monday reported the planned signing after attending the inauguration of President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in Kabul.
U.S. and Afghan officials agreed on terms of the accord more than a year ago, but former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai refused to sign. Karzai complained about U.S. airstrikes that have killed Afghan civilians and U.S. overtures to the Taliban, the Islamists who had ruled Afghanistan until ousted by American forces in 2001. The Taliban have been waging a civil war ever since.
Both Ahmadzai and his rival, Abdullah Abdullah, said they would sign the agreement if elected.
The two formed a power-sharing government, with Abdullah named chief executive, a position with substantial influence within the government.
The residual U.S. force will be responsible for advising and supporting Afghan security forces and conducting counter-terrorism missions against al-Qaida and its affiliates.
NATO countries are expected to contribute troops to the residual force as well, bringing the total to about 12,000.
Under the plan the number of U.S. forces would be reduced by more than half in 2015 and then removed entirely by 2017.
Currently there are about 24,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak of about 100,000 in 2010 and 2011, according to the Pentagon.
Afghan security forces are already leading operations throughout the country as U.S. forces have largely withdrawn from direct combat.
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