Washington: The United States still intends
to withdraw some 33,000 troops from Afghanistan by next year,
US President Barack Obama told US Congress.
Obama also claimed that his administration has reversed
the Taliban momentum.
"We have seen great progress in our fight against
al Qaeda; we have reversed the Taliban`s momentum in
Afghanistan; and we continue to see progress in training the
Afghan National Security Forces," Obama said in a letter to
the Congress, which accompanied his report on Afghanistan and
Pakistan.
"This will allow us in the coming year to fully recover
the 33,000 US troop surge I announced at West Point in
December 2009," Obama wrote in his letter, that was released
by the White House.
"Beyond that change, we continue to implement the
strategy and do not believe further modifications or
adjustments to the metrics, resources, or authorities are
required at this time.
"Huge challenges remain, and this is the beginning -- but
not the end -- of our effort to wind down this war," Obama
said.
PTI