NATO is leaving the door open for a larger security force in Afghanistan than initially planned after 2016, but officials said Thursday the alliance is waiting for the U.S. to announce its decision, which could come as soon as next week.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he discussed the issue with a number of NATO allies Thursday and asked them "to remain flexible" and consider making adjustments to their troop levels and posture in Afghanistan. He said a number of them indicated a willingness to change their plans.
Carter referred to NATO's "two-and-a-half year old" plan, which had the U.S. leaving just 1,000 troops in the country after 2016, lending credence to U.S. commanders' arguments that over time conditions in Afghanistan have changed.
The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Campbell told Congress this week that he has recommended to President Barack Obama that he keep more than 1,000 troops in the country beyond 2016. He would not provide a precise number. U.S. officials have said that the military has argued to keep several thousand there, and they suggest that the White House has not ruled out such a shift.
Obama has long said the U.S. force level in Afghanistan would be cut to about 1,000 by the end of next year. But he has given commanders the flexibility to slow the drawdown in the coming months as needed to meet security threats.
Campbell told Congress this week that conditions on the ground in Afghanistan have changed since Obama made the pledge to end the war and get troops out of the country by the time his presidency ends in 2017.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that the alliance's decisions will be made based on a detailed security assessment that will determine the size of the force, where they will be based and how long they will stay. He predicted a decision in the coming weeks, but other officials suggested Obama could make his plans known fairly soon.
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Carter also said that NATO allies have indicated they would be willing to continue funding Afghanistan's security forces.
The NATO discussions come just days after a U.S. airstrike mistakenly hit a hospital during a fierce fight in the northern city of Kunduz, killing 22 people. Afghan forces have regained control of the city, which was seized by the Taliban last week, and troops continue to go house-to-house Thursday to clear pockets of remaining insurgents.
Stoltenberg noted the Kunduz tragedy and underscored the need for a full, thorough and transparent investigation.
He also said the security situation in Afghanistan remains challenging, and NATO will assess the capabilities of the Afghan forces as it works to decide how long alliance troops will remain in the country and at what levels.
He added that even after the Resolute Support mission ends, NATO will continue to support Afghanistan and launch and enduring partnership with the country.
