Australia to reduce Afghan force in 2-4 years

Australia will start reducing its military presence in Afghanistan in two to four years, once it hands over security to local Afghan forces, Australian Defense Minister John Faulkner said on Wednesday.

Australia has about 1,500 troops in Afghanistan, including about 200 special forces and about 1,000 troops based at Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province, working with Dutch forces on reconstruction and helping to train the Afghan National Army. (Reuters)