NATO to consider maintaining larger Afghan force

NATO is strongly considering a proposal to continue funding a security force of 352,000 Afghan troops through 2018, as part of an effort to maintain security and help convince Afghanistan that America and its allies will not abandon it once combat troops leave in 2014, senior alliance officials said Thursday.

Such a change, if NATO endorses it, could increase the costs to the US and allies by more than $2 billion a year, at a time when most are struggling with budget cuts and fiscal woes. (AP)