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October 15, 2012

U.K. to Begin Afghan Withdrawal in 2013 
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The British government has announced plans to withdraw thousands of
troops from Afghanistan next year. British Defense Secretary Phillip
Hammond says despite the withdrawals, more than half of British troops
in Afghanistan will still remain behind until the U.S. pullout one year
later in 2014.

British Defense Secretary Phillip Hammond: "I'd expect it will be
significant, which means thousands, not hundreds, but I would not expect
it to be the majority of our forces out by the end of next year. We will
have by the beginning of 2013 we'll have 9,000 troops there, and by the
end of 2014 we'll have virtually none, so I would expect there to be a
significant step at the end of 2013."

 

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