US President Barack Obama at the UN's 68th General Assembly session on Tuesday said that the international coalition forces will end its war in Afghanistan, after having "achieved" its mission of dismantling the core of Al-Qaeda that attacked America on September 11, 2001.
"Next year, the international coalition will end its war in Afghanistan, having achieved its mission of dismantling the core of Al-Qaeda that attacked us on 9/11," said Obama at the UN Assembly in New York.
He also warned that a splintered Al-Qaeda still poses threat to peace and security. He said the new situation means that the US is shifting away from a perpetual war footing.
"Beyond bringing our troops home we have limited the use of drones so they target only those who pose a continuing imminent threat to the United States where capture is not feasible and there's a near certainty of no civilian casualties," Obama said.
There are around 100,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, out of which around 68,000 are Americans.
Foreign forces are scheduled to leave by the end of 2014 with the end of the NATO combat mission, after which time the Afghan security forces – currently numbering at around 300,000 men – will take over full security responsibility of the country.
Obama said the US has worked with allies to end a decade of war.
"Five years ago nearly 180,000 Americans were serving in harm's way, and the war in Iraq was the dominant issue in our relationship with the rest of the world. Today, all of our troops have left Iraq," he added.
Nevertheless, according to NATO and Afghan officials, the Afghan security forces have assumed the bulk of leadership on operations throughout the country already.