No U.S. ‘rush for the exits’ in Afghanistan

Mr. Gates was speaking on Thursday after NATO’s Secretary—General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he was confident U.S. troop withdrawals due to start in July will not affect security in the war—torn country.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates hands a copy of Time Magazine featuring an image of Osama bin Laden on the cover to an unidentified participant, left, before a meeting with NATO and non-NATO ISAF participating nations at the NATO Defence Ministers Summit in Brussels on Thursday. Photo: AP.

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates says there will be no “rush for the exits” by the United States in Afghanistan when President Barack Obama announces details of cuts in American troop numbers in the 10—year war against Taliban insurgents.

Mr. Gates was speaking on Thursday after NATO’s Secretary—General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he was confident U.S. troop withdrawals due to start in July will not affect security in the war—torn country.

Earlier, Germany urged Washington not to pull too many of its 100,000 troops out of Afghanistan next month, saying a major reduction in American forces could risk NATO’s strategy in the 10—year conflict.

The Obama administration has not yet released details of the planned reduction in its troop numbers in Afghanistan.