08 July 2016

News Story: Afghan president welcomes Obama's decision on extension of U.S. troops' presence

KABUL, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has welcomed the decision of his U.S. counterpart to maintain American troops' presence in Afghanistan into 2017, Arg, the country's Presidential Palace said on Thursday.

"Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani welcomed decision of President Barak Obama to authorize extension of U.S. troops in Afghanistan," said a statement posted in Arg's website.

On Wednesday, Obama announced that he will maintain about 8,400 American troops in Afghanistan into 2017 through the end of his administration. His original plan was to draw down U.S. troops in the militancy-hit country to 5,500 by the end of this year.

Read the full story at Xinhua