Ashraf Ghani visit: US agrees to slow troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

Heeding to demands made by Afghanistan, the United States has reportedly agreed to keep at least 10,000 troops in Afghanistan throughout 2015, the White House said.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani made the announcement at a press conference in Washington, reported the BBC.

Obama has promised to end U.S.' longest war by the end of his term, despite ongoing security issues there.

A small force will now be left at the U.S. embassy by the end of 2016.

Officials had earlier planned to cut down the U.S. troop presence to 5,500 by the end of 2015.

However, with the prospect of a tough spring fighting season on the horizon, Islamic State (IS) making inroads into Afghanistan and other security concerns, the U.S. will now keep 9,800 forces in Afghanistan.

Ghani said that the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops would allow Afghan forces to be better trained and equipped.