Washington - President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the United States was committed to long-term ties with Afghanistan, but would not seek to extend its military presence longer than needed to disable al-Qaeda and ensure a modicum of stability as foreign troops withdraw.
Obama told a news conference the violence that erupted after US soldiers burned copies of the Qur’an on a Nato military base last month was an indication that “now is the time” for Nato to transition out of the lead for security.
After over a decade of war, Nato nations plan to withdraw most combat troops by the end of 2014 as the West seeks to gradually put local forces in the lead.
On Tuesday, the Afghan government said it may soon reach an agreement with the Obama administration on US-managed detention centres, which would pave the way for a bilateral agreement that the White House hopes will define the long-term US presence in Afghanistan. - Reuters