The issue will be among the top priorities at an
annual two-day NATO summit in Brussels that begins Tuesday and
focuses on security concerns.
The U.S. wants to keep thousands of troops in Afghanistan to
continue training and advising local forces. Other NATO counties
are expected to follow suit once Washington and Kabul reach an
agreement.
But Afghan President Hamid Karzai so far has balked at the
proposal.
The U.S. has demanded a final decision by the end of this month,
or has threatened to withdraw all its troops from the still
shaky country after 12 years of war.
[Associated
Press; LARA JAKES, AP National Security Writer]
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