OBAMA MEETS TOP MILITARY LEADERS TO DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN

Kabul, 6 Rabi’ul 1435/6 Febuary 2014 (MINA) – The White House officials announced Tuesday that president Barack Obama meet with the top US military commanders and discussed options regarding the America’s presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014. 

The meeting organized in Oval Office, was attended by Gen. Joseph Dunford, the top US commander in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, chiarman of the Joint chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey and other defense and White House officials.

A spokesperson for the White House, Laura Lucas Magnuson, said the outcome of the meeting was positive as Obama had a useful, constructive meeting with the military officials, Khaama Press quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“The president continues to weigh inputs from military officials, as well as the intelligence community, our diplomats, and development experts and has not yet made decisions regarding the post-2014 U.S. presence,” Magnuson quoted by Reuters said.

Obama’s meeting with the top military officials comes as the two nations have reached to an agreement to end the deadlock over the bilateral security agreement, which will give a legal framework for the presence of US troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

Washington is considering is to keep over 10,000 troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014, for couter-terrorism operations and training of the Afghan national security forces.

However, White House says all U.S. forces will withdraw at the end of the year if the agreement was not signed by Afghan government.

White House officials insist that a decision is needed within weeks by president Karzai, who has so far refused to sign the agreement between the two nations. (T/P012/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)