US force in Afghanistan may be cut to less than 10,000 troops

WASHINGTON: The number of US troops in Afghanistan may drop well below 10,000 - the minimum demanded by the US military to train Afghan forces - as the longest war in
American history winds down, Obama administration officials briefed on the matter say.

Since Afghanistan´s general election on April 5, White House, State Department and Pentagon officials have resumed discussions on how many American troops should remain after the current US-led coalition ends its mission this year.

The decision to consider a small force, possibly less than 5,000 US troops, reflects a belief among White House officials that Afghan security forces have evolved into a robust enough force to contain a still-potent Taliban-led insurgency. The
small US force that would remain could focus on counter-terrorism or training operations.

That belief, the officials say, is based partly on Afghanistan´s surprisingly smooth election, which has won international praise for its high turnout, estimated at 60
percent of 12 million eligible votes, and the failure of Taliban militants to stage high-profile attacks that day.

The Obama administration has been looking at options for a possible residual US force for months.

"The discussion is very much alive," said one US official who asked not to be identified. "They´re looking for additional options under 10,000" troops.

There are now about 33,000 US troops in Afghanistan, down from 100,000 in 2011, when troop numbers peaked a decade into a conflict originally intended to deny al Qaeda sanctuary in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. (Reuters)