In a Thursday morning announcement, President Barack Obama said the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan will halt until the end of his term in 2017. 
President Obama said 9,800 troops will remain in Afghanistan through most of 2016 before the number drops to 5,500 in either late 2016 or early 2017 in order to train and support Afghan troops. He said this is not only a matter of security in Afghanistan, but also to protect the United States.
“The bottom line is in key areas of the country the security situation is still very fragile, and in some places there’s risk of deterioration,” President Obama said in his statement. 
The president said the troops will be continuing their current objectives.
“But maintaining our current posture through most of next year rather than a more rapid drawdown will allow us to sustain our efforts to train and assist Afghan forces as they grow stronger not only during this fighting season, but into the next one,” Obama said.
By Sam King