No change in troop drawdown strategy: US

WASHINGTON (Pajhwok): US President Barack Obama reserves the right to make adjustment to his Afghan policy, a senior White House official said on Friday, ruling out any change to the post-2014 troop drawdown strategy.

“In terms of the President’s strategy, at this point we’re carrying forward with the strategy the president has announced” said Caitlin Hayden, the National Security Council spokesman.

However, she said very important to the strategy would be the signing of the bilateral security agreement, which both Afghan candidates had said they would conclude.

“As is always the case, depending on the conditions on the ground, the President reserves the right to make adjustments to his policy,” Hayden told reporters during a conference call.

She said: “but right now, the policy is and the plan is as the President laid it out, so I’m not expecting to announce any changes at this stage,” she said. 

rm/ma

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