Obama abandons pledge to withdraw armed forces
A 9,800-strong force will stay after 2016 as leader admits Afghan military is not ready
US President Barack Obama has announced that thousands of US troops will remain in Afghanistan past 2016 after admitting that Afghan forces are not ready to stand alone.
Retreating from a major campaign pledge, he called his decision on Thursday to keep a 9,800-strong force in Afghanistan through much of next year "the right thing to do".
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