
At least 9,800 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan through the end of 2016 to provide support to that nation’s defense and security forces as they continue to build the capability to fight terrorism and protect their own government against a resurgent Taliban and the rise of Islamic State sympathizers, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Oct. 15.President Barack Obama announced earlier the same day that the administration’s declared policy of drawing down to fewer than 1,000 troops by the time…