Washington: US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Wednesday indicated the United States would maintain extra troops in Afghanistan beyond the end of next year.
Under current plans, the United States will draw-down its troop numbers by the end of 2016 from about 10,000 currently to a crew of only about 1,000.
Echoing remarks he made at a NATO meeting in Brussels last week, Carter said it was important for the United States "to formulate options for 2016 and beyond and make adjustments to the planned US presence based on current circumstances."
The Obama administration has come under criticism for its planned withdrawal of forces, with opponents saying the move opens up Afghanistan to more attacks by the Taliban, who just two weeks ago captured the city of Kunduz.
A swift response by US-trained Afghan security forces led to an eventual Taliban retreat.
"It's important to say these things because the narrative that we're leaving Afghanistan is self-defeating," Carter told an Army conference in Washington.
"We're not, we can't, and to do so would not be to take advantage of the success we've had to date."
NATO forces have been in Afghanistan since 2001.
Though the United States represents by far the largest contingent, Carter last week said several NATO defense ministers told him they were open to modifications to current plans.
Under current plans, the United States will draw-down its troop numbers by the end of 2016 from about 10,000 currently to a crew of only about 1,000.
Echoing remarks he made at a NATO meeting in Brussels last week, Carter said it was important for the United States "to formulate options for 2016 and beyond and make adjustments to the planned US presence based on current circumstances."
A swift response by US-trained Afghan security forces led to an eventual Taliban retreat.
Advertisement
"We're not, we can't, and to do so would not be to take advantage of the success we've had to date."
Advertisement
Though the United States represents by far the largest contingent, Carter last week said several NATO defense ministers told him they were open to modifications to current plans.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Back At Pentagon After Secret Hospital Stay In Show Of Solidarity, US Defence Chief Lloyd Austin Arrives In Israel Rajnath Singh Holds Strategic Talks With US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage "Sell Golgappas?": Kangana Ranaut On Shankaracharya's Remark On E Shinde Why BJP Lost Lok Sabha Polls In Uttar Pradesh - 6 Reasons In Party Report Bengaluru Blues: When Policies Clash With Progress PM Modi Chairs Security Meet Amid Rising Terror Attacks In Jammu 2 Soldiers Injured As Another Encounter Breaks Out In J&K's Doda Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.