Ghani

Press TV
July 6 2016

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has welcomed US President Barack Obama’s decision to maintain the bulk of American troops in Afghanistan.

“[I] welcome President Obama’s decision on keeping 8,400 troops” in Afghanistan, said Ghani in a message posted on his official Twitter account on Wednesday.

“It shows continued partnership between our nations to pursue our common interests,” he added.

Earlier, during a press briefing at the White House, Obama announced that he would leave behind 8,400 American forces by the year-end, nearly 3,000 more than what he had promised last year.

“We have to deal with the realities of the world as it is. We can’t forget what’s at stake in Afghanistan. This is where al-Qaeda is trying to regroup, this is where Daesh continues to try to expand its presence,” he said.

Around 9,800 US troops are currently in Afghanistan, reportedly training Afghan forces to battle militant groups such Daesh and the Taliban.

Last October, Obama said that he would keep 9,800 troops in Afghanistan through 2016 and slash the level to 5,500 upon leaving office in January 2017.

The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity still lingers across the war-torn country despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops.

Related

• Statement by the US President on Afghanistan
• 8,400 US troops to remain in Afghanistan through January 2017: Obama