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February 11-17
President Barack Obama on February 12 announced that 34,000 troops would be pulled out of Afghanistan in the next year, and vowed that by the end of 2014 the US war in the country would be over. “After a decade of grinding war, our brave men and women in uniform are coming home,” Obama said in his State of the Union address, winning applause and a standing ovation from lawmakers. The long-awaited move effectively halves the size of the current 66,000-strong US force in Afghanistan, ahead of a final withdrawal of most foreign combat troops by the end of 2014. 1
According to reports, A NATO airstrike has killed ten Afghan civilians including five children in Afghanistan. This took place in eastern province of Kunar in Afghanistan. Four Taliban fighters were also killed in the strike. This happened hours after Obama announced withdrawal of troops. 2
In other developments, according to reports, the US has started using the land route through Pakistan to pull American military equipment out of Afghanistan as it draws down its troops in the country, US and Pakistani officials said on February 11. 3
- 1. Obama says 34000 troops to leave Afghanistan, Dawn, February 13, 2013 at http://dawn.com/2013/02/13/obama-says-34000-us-troops-to-leave-afghanistan/
- 2. Ten Afghan civilians killed in NATO airstrike, Dawn, February 13, 2013 at http://dawn.com/2013/02/13/ten-afghan-civilians-killed-in-nato-airstrike/
- 3. US begins pulling out hardware through Pakistan, Dawn, February 12, 2013 at http://dawn.com/2013/02/12/us-begins-pulling-out-hardware-through-pakistan/