Rasmussen hints US, Nato troops may pull out before 2014 deadline

Admits insider attacks have shaken morale, damaged trust between Nato troops, Afghan forces.

BRUSSELS: A sharp rise in insider attacks has shaken the morale of troops to such a degree that Nato is now considering pulling out earlier than its 2014 deadline, Anders Fogh Rasmussen told the Guardian on Monday.

The Nato secretary-general Rasmussen said that they were studying options  and a decision would become clear within three months.

"From now until the end of 2014 you may see adaptation of our presence. Our troops can redeploy, take on other tasks, or even withdraw, or we can reduce the number of foreign troops," he said. "From now until the end of 2014 we will see announcements of redeployments, withdrawals or drawdown … If the security situation allows, I would not exclude the possibility that in certain areas you could accelerate the process."

Rasmussen admitted to another worrying sign. Recent surge in murders of almost 50 allied troops this year in "green on blue" attacks – Afghan security forces turning on their trainers and mentors – has gone a long way in damaging the relationship between the international forces and the Afghan police and military.

"There's no doubt insider attacks have undermined trust and confidence, absolutely," he said.

While he attributed some cases to acts of personal grudges, the Nato secretary general said that the method was being used to deadly affect by the Taliban. "It's safe to say that a significant part of the insider attacks are due to Taliban tactics … Probably it is part of a Taliban strategy," he said.