At the end of the year, the United States will be leaving 9,800 troops in Afghanistan; 1,800 of those will be designated for counterterror operations.
The AP reports that other countries may also send troops designated to combat terrorism, but specific plans have not been made.
12,000 troops are needed in Afghanistan, including allied troops. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford said, “Right now, I don’t have any concerns getting to 12,000.”
In the distant future, the United States plans to cut the number of troops in Afghanistan in half by the end of 2015; by 2016, only several hundred troops will be necessary. The U.S. also has committed to assisting Afghan forces with logistics and budgeting, along with other allies.
Publication date: June 4, 2014