Karzai faces an altered landscape in talks with Obama

The Afghan leader wants to ensure a U.S. role after the 2014 pullout of foreign troops, but the White House is looking at shifting to a covert strategy like that used in Pakistan.

By David S. Cloud and Alexandra Zavis, Los Angeles Times
5:59 PM PST, January 10, 2013

WASHINGTON — Battling a potent insurgency and waning support in Washington, Afghan President Hamid Karzai will meet President Obama on Friday amid signs that the White House seeks to transform the ground war in Afghanistan into a conflict similar to the current covert war in Pakistan.

The Obama administration has maintained pressure on Islamist militants who operate in Pakistan's lawless border areas through the use of targeted drone strikes against individuals and small gatherings, vast infusions of military and financial aid to the government in Islamabad, and a mostly hidden U.S. military and CIA presence.

Obama is likely to follow that light-footprint model in Afghanistan after most or all U.S. troops withdraw by the end of 2014, according to officials familiar with current White House thinking. The evolving plans suggest a sharp shift from policy debates last year, when the administration seemed determined to work with Afghan security forces to lock in territorial gains made by U.S. troops.

The final size and capabilities of the U.S. force that stays behind have not been determined, but the developing plans envision that Afghanistan's armed forces will receive little or no American air and artillery support during combat operations against insurgents, and minimal military or police training except by private contractors, the officials said.

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