US mulling delaying troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

United States President Barack Obama's new Pentagon chief has reportedly gone on record to say that the U.S. is mulling delaying the pace of withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in the wake of growing Taliban insurgency in the nation.

Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said that Obama was considering an array of options to reinforce U.S.' support for President Ashraf Ghani's security strategy, including expanding the timeline for troop withdrawal in order to safeguard "hard-won" progress, reported News 24.

Carter said at joint press conference with Ghani that it could mean taking another look at the "timing and sequencing of base closures" in order to ensure that they have the "right array of coalition capabilities."

His statements offered the clearest indication that Washington was ready to postpone the closure of some bases and retain more troops following appeals by Ghani and advice from commanders.