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Obama: Security situation in Afghanistan 'still fragile'

American troops will not withdraw from Afghanistan next year as planned, as the security situation in the country is "still fragile", US President Barack Obama has announced.

Some 9,800 US troops remain in Afghanistan through next year, he said, to continue training Afghan forces and helping combat the Taliban.

US President Barack Obama gave an update on the situation in Afghanistan Credit: EBU

Read: Obama to keep 5,500 troops in Afghanistan after 2016

He said American soldiers had served with "skill and valour" and had made "great progress" in delivering justice, preventing terrorist attacks and pushing the Taliban back to improve the lives of Afghan civilians.

But, he added, Afghan forces are "still not as strong as they need to be" - while the Taliban has made gains, adding: "The security situation is still fragile - and in some places, there is the risk of deterioration."

Today, American forces no longer patrol Afghanistan villages or valleys, our troops are not engaged in major ground combat against the Taliban. Those missons now belong to Afghans, who are fully responsible for securing their country.

But, as I've said before, while America's combat mission in Afghanistan may be over, our commitment to Afghanistan and its people endures. As Commander in Chief, I will not allow Afghanistan to be used as safe haven for terrorists to attack our nation again.

Our forces therefore remain in two narrow but critical missions - training Afghan forces, and supporting the counter-terrorism operation against the remnants of Al-Qaeda.

– Barack Obama, US President