US President Barack Obama on 23 June 2011 set in motion a substantial withdrawal of American troops in an acknowledgment of the shifting threat in the region and the political and economic challenges in a war-weary America. He announced that the United States had largely achieved its goals in Afghanistan.
Obama announced plans to withdraw 10000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2011. The remaining 20000 troops from the 2009 surge would leave by 2012 summer, amounting to about a third of the 100000 troops in the country. The pullout will continue at a steady pace until security is handed over to Afghan authorities in 2014. The withdrawals would signal the end of the military’s counterinsurgency strategy adopted 18 months ago.
Afghan president Hamid Karzai welcomed US president Barack Obamas move to withdraw 10000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2011. Karzai was confident that Afghanistans Nato-trained police and army could take control of the country from the forces.
US president Barack Obamas 2014 deadline for withdrawal provided India sufficient leeway to continue its nation-building assistance in Afghanistan without fear of a Pakistan-backed return of the Taliban.
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