Gates signals ‘modest’ US drawdown in Afghan war

Afghanistan: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Saturday a “modest” number of American troops could be withdrawn from Afghanistan next month as he argued for sticking to the current war strategy.

In a farewell visit to Afghanistan before he steps down as head of the Pentagon this month, Gates said battlefield gains against Taliban insurgents and a larger Afghan security force had paved the way for a limited drawdown of US troops.

His comments offered the latest signal that the US administration plans no dramatic shift in the American-led war effort as President Barack Obama weighs a decision on the pace and scale of a troop withdrawal due to begin in July.

“Between the successes we have already enjoyed and the increased capacity of the Afghan forces, we are in a position, based on conditions on the ground as the president (Obama) has said, to consider some modest drawdowns beginning in July,” Gates told a press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Gates also held out the possibility of peace talks by the end of the year with the Islamist insurgency, but said more time was needed to gauge the effects of NATO-led pressure and the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Kabul, Sunday, AFP