The post-2014 Afghanistan: how many troops should leave behind?

A decision on the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan after the combat mission of NATO in 2014 she intervene at the end of next week's visit of Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Washington? This is unlikely because U.S. officials remain divided on the personnel deployed at the end of the withdrawal.

The United States currently have  66 000 100 000 soldiers of the combat mission in Afghanistan and NATO want to keep bases and troops in the country after 2014. General John Allen, chief of military operations in Afghanistan, has proposed keeping 6,000, 10,000 or 20,000 men in the country after the NATO mission, according to military sources cited by the New York Times. These soldiers should train and support the Afghan army, and perhaps conduct operations "against terrorism.

A report by the Institute for the Study of War needs analysis and concludes that these numbers are expected to reach nearly 30,000 men. The authors have developed two scenarios, some common parameters are:

- Staffs and command structures: 920 h

- Command and control: from 1 900 to 2 150 h

- Support to the Afghan forces from 16 000 to 20 000 h (four security forces, support brigades)

- Operations: 4475 or 7650 (if a combat brigade is deployed in RC East.

Afghanistan: British soldier killed by a shot from the inside

A British soldier of the armed forces of NATO was killed by a man wearing the uniform of the Afghan army, the first victim in 2013 attacks inside Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday.

A person wearing the uniform of the Afghan army turned the gun against members of the armed forces of NATO in southern Afghanistan yesterday, killing one of them, said in a statement the coalition which does not give details about the victim.

The British authorities have confirmed the death of one of their soldiers by an alleged member of the Afghan National Army in the district of Nahr-e-Saraj in Helmand province, a prey to the Taliban insurgency, but without revealing identity.

The attacker was also killed in the attack, also said a spokesman of the NATO mission.

This new attack inside comes as Afghan President Hamid Karzai is in Washington for talks with U.S. officials on the stability of his country after the combat mission of the 100,000 NATO troops in late 2014.

After this deadline, Afghan forces only ensure the protection of the territory against Taliban insurgents, who currently refuse to join a peace process to prevent a new civil war in the country.