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Obama warns of US Afghan pullout US planning full Afghan pullout, Obama tells Karzai
(35 minutes later)
President Barack Obama has warned his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai that the US may pull all of its troops out of his country by the year's end.President Barack Obama has warned his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai that the US may pull all of its troops out of his country by the year's end.
Mr Obama conveyed the message in a phone call to Mr Karzai, who has refused to sign a security agreement.Mr Obama conveyed the message in a phone call to Mr Karzai, who has refused to sign a security agreement.
The US insists this agreement must be in place before it commits to leaving some troops behind for counter-terrorism operations and training. The US insists this agreement must be in place before it commits to leaving some troops behind for counter-insurgent operations and training.
The US has had troops in Afghanistan since 2001 when it invaded the country. The US has had troops in Afghanistan since 2001 when it toppled the Taliban.
"President Obama has asked the Pentagon to ensure that it has adequate plans in place to accomplish an orderly withdrawal by the end of the year should the United States not keep any troops in Afghanistan after 2014," the White House said. Its forces went into the country following the 9/11 attacks on the US. With Afghan allies, they quickly overthrew the Taliban authorities, but have faced insurgent attacks since then.
The statement came as US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel flew to Brussels for a Nato meeting at which Afghanistan is due to be discussed. "President Obama told President Karzai that because he has demonstrated that it is unlikely that he will sign the BSA (Bilateral Security Agreement), the United States is moving forward with additional contingency planning," the White House said in a statement.
"Specifically, President Obama has asked the Pentagon to ensure that it has adequate plans in place to accomplish an orderly withdrawal by the end of the year should the United States not keep any troops in Afghanistan after 2014.
"Furthermore, the longer we go without a BSA, the more likely it will be that any post-2014 US mission will be smaller in scale and ambition."
The BSA, which offers legal protection for US troops and defines a post-2014 Nato training and anti-insurgent mission, was agreed by the two countries last year.
While Mr Karzai has refused to sign it, some candidates in April's Afghan presidential elections - which Mr Karzai cannot contest after serving two terms - have indicated they would.
The White House statement came as US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel flew to Brussels for a Nato meeting at which Afghanistan is due to be discussed.