The Obama Administration today said it was open to all options, including the so-called "zero option", in regard to troops withdrawal from war-ravaged Afghanistan, but noted that no decision has been made so far.
"When it comes to a potential residual force in Afghanistan after 2014, we have long been clear that this is something that we will discuss and negotiate with the Afghan government," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters at his daily news conference.
"Going all the way back to January, we have made clear that, the options that are available include the zero option, the so-called zero option," Carney said in response to a question that the US is seriously considering the option of having no troops at all in Afghanistan after 2014.
"The focus we have in these conversations with and negotiations with the Afghan government is on how do we implement our two policy objectives here beyond 2014, which is to continue to pursue the remnants of al-Qaida in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, one, and two, how do we continue to train and equip Afghan security forces, so that they can protect the stability and integrity of the Afghan government," the press secretary said.
The US, he said, will continue to work with the Afghan government as it looks at the options available to it post- 2014.
"Now, I want to make clear, that this is not a decision that's imminent. And you know, we're talking about a potential residual force in a year and a half. So these are ongoing conversations," Carney said in response to a question.
"They're part of a bilateral security agreement discussion that we're having with the Afghans. Separate and apart from this, or separate but actually integral to this, is our broader commitment to Afghanistan, reflected in our strategic partnership agreement.
We will continue to be committed to Afghanistan beyond 2014 in our robust civilian assistance and our support for the Afghan national security forces," the official said.
He said there is great consensus between the Afghan government and the US government, about its view of the need for Afghanistan to be secure and sovereign and democratic in the future.
"We have had disagreements in the past and will have them in the future, there's no question. But the core agreement here is on a future in Afghanistan that is stable and democratic and secure," he said.
Carney said the residual force and whether there is one will depend on the negotiations with the Afghans and on the US assessment of the best way to achieve its policy objectives.
"Going forward, after 2014, there will be very clear objectives for our policy in Afghanistan, and those objectives may be met by a residual force of US troops in Afghanistan, or they may be met through other means. I mean, there are other ways to train and equip security forces, and there are other ways, obviously, to continue our efforts against remnants of al-Qaida," the White House spokesman said.
