The US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan was headed for Kabul on Saturday for regional talks in the wake of President Barack Obama's announcement of a US drawdown from the country.

Ambassador Marc Grossman, who left for Kabul on Friday, will highlight US commitment to a "long-term, enduring partnership" with Afghanistan, the State Department said in a statement.

During his visit, Grossman will also attend a meeting of the International Contact Group for Afghanistan "as part of ongoing consultations with Afghanistan's neighbors and international partners," it added.

In addition, he will hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, National Swcurity Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta and United Nations Special Representative Staffan de Mistura.

The special envoy will also represent the United States at the third meeting of the US-Afghanistan-Pakistan Core Group "to support a process of Afghan-led reconciliation," according to the State Department.

In a nationally televised address on Wednesday, Obama announced a plan to withdraw 33,000 surge troops from Afghanistan by the end of next summer, which his military commanders said was more "aggressive" than they had recommended.

The move came as the American public grows increasingly impatient with a war that has dragged on for nearly a decade.

White House officials insist Obama's move was based on military strategy -- not politics -- and that progress on the battlefield and the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had made the drawdown possible.

earlier related report
Turkey hails US military drawback from Afghanistan: report
Ankara (AFP) June 25, 2011 - Turkey's foreign ministry on Saturday welcomed the US decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Anatolia news agency reported.

"It is an important step for improving the Afghanisation strategy...," a foreign ministry statement carried by Anatolia said.

"Our joint target in the end is to enable Afghans to claim ownership of their own destiny and ensure the full independence and sovereignty of Afghanistan," it added.

US President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that 10,000 US troops would leave Afghanistan this year and that all 33,000 forces sent as part of a surge ordered in late 2009 would be home by next summer.

There are around 140,000 international troops in Afghanistan, including a Turkish contingent, although its mission is limited to patrols and excludes combat operations.

"Turkey is determined to continue its support to Afghanistan as long as Afghan people need it," the ministry statement said.

Turkey would in mid-July start a six-month training programme for Afghan police officers, it added.

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