WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama announced on Tuesday that he would not reduce US troop levels in Afghanistan by the end of this year, despite an earlier pledge to do so.

The announcement came during a joint press conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on his first official visit to the United States since his election.

“We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to make sure Afghan security forces succeed so that we don’t have to go back,” President Obama said.

The US will keep 9,800 troops in Afghanistan through the end of the year at President Ghani’s request.

President Obama had earlier announced his plan to slash that number to 5,500.

“I’ve decided that we will maintain our current posture of 9,800 troops through the end of this year,” he said at the news conference at the White House.

“This flexibility reflects our reinvigorated partnership with Afghanistan,” President Obama said, adding that this extended stay would be “well worth it”.

He said he had changed his plan “so we don’t have to respond in an emergency because terrorist activities are being launched out of Afghanistan”.

Another factor in halting the drawdown, he said, was the “lengthy period” it took for Afghans to form their new government.

President Ghani said the extension would allow his military to better prepare for the total withdrawal of US forces, still scheduled for the end of 2016.

“Much binds us together, and the flexibility that has been provided for 2015 will be used to accelerate reforms to ensure that the Afghan security forces are much better led, equipped, trained, and are focused on their fundamental mission,” he said.

The Afghan leader spent most of the morning with Mr Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden, discussing the future of American involvement in Afghanistan.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play