NATO may maintain upto 12,000 troops in Afghanistan post pullout

Nato contemplating an overall force of 8-12,000 troops in Afghanistan beyond the 2014 pull out date.

BRUSSELS: Nato allies discussed keeping a Nato force of between 8,000 and 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after 2014, but US President Barack Obama has not decided how many American troops will remain there, Pentagon spokesperson George Little said on Friday.

"A range of 8-12,000 troops was discussed as the possible size of the overall Nato mission, not the US contribution," Little said after a Nato defence ministers' meeting in Brussels, pointing towards the possibility that a smaller contingent of US forces than previously believed would stay on in Afghanistan.

"The president is still reviewing options and has not made a decision about the size of a possible US presence after 2014, and we will continue to discuss with allies and the Afghans how we can best carry out two basic missions: targeting the remnants of al Qaeda and its affiliates, and training and equipping Afghan forces," he said.