Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed that Britain will abide by its plan to withdraw combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
Cameron, speaking at a meeting with visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the prime minister's country residence outside London, said Britain is seeking "a long-term relationship" with Afghanistan after the withdrawal of its combat troops "at the end of 2014."
The meeting comes a day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Karzai agreed the timetable for handing over combat operations from NATO troops to Afghan forces should happen in 2013 and not 2014, as the United States favors.
Britain has about 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, mostly deployed in the insurgence-wracked south of the country.
Reuters