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US to Slow Down Military Withdrawal From Afghanistan

US President Barack Obama has confirmed that the country will slow down its military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
 
America is to maintain the number of its troops currently in Afghanistan until the end of the year, rather than cutting the number by half, as was orginally planned. 
 
Just under 10,000 American soldiers are presently in the country.
 
The announcement comes as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who has been asking for greater support from US troops over the next few years, visits Washington for a series of meetings. 
 
President Obama, meanwhile, says he still intends to complete the drawdown by the end of 2016 and that the transition to end America's combat role in the country hasn't changed.
 
He said the move will ensure Afghan forces get the training needed to be able to lead independently.

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