Outgoing Defense Policy Undersecretary James Miller said Tuesday that the U.S.’ effort to transition full security responsibility in Afghanistan to domestic troops there will finish this year as a bilateral security agreement between the two countries is pending, American Forces Press Service reports.Jim Garamone writes that Miller told a group of reporters that if the agreement goes through, U.S. troops will stay in Afghanistan to both work with Afghan national security forces and conduct some counterterrorism missions.
Miller added the U.S. would have to plan for having no soldiers in Afghanistan in 2015 without the agreement, according to AFPS.
“It is not desirable for Afghans or for others, but ultimately, this is up to the Afghans,†he said.
He is leaving the Pentagon Wednesday after nearly two years in his current role and does not plan to immediately take another job, according to AFPS.
