On the Christmas Day (today), the tens of thousands of westerners having military and civil engagements in Afghanistan must be wishing to be with their friends and family in their own countries. 10,000 US soldiers who have already left Afghanistan must be feeling themselves quite lucky. Fighting in Afghanistan has never been an easy job.

The drawdown process of US forces continues. By the December next year, US will withdraw 23,000 more soldiers. The withdrawal process is expected to complete in 2014 by handing over the security responsibilities of all Afghanistan to Afghan security forces.

The presence of US forces after 2014 will only be at the invitation of the government of Afghanistan. That is what the White House has said. "Any post-2014 presence would of course be at the invitation of the Afghan government, and would ensure that we will be able to target terrorists and support a sovereign Afghan government so that our enemies cannot outlast us," the White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, told reporters on Wednesday.

The withdrawal of NATO troops is taking place at times when the lowest level of security prevails in Afghanistan, the enemies are still at large and the process of peace – reconciliation and negotiation with Taliban – misses a clear strategy.

According to many, the withdrawal process will leave certain negative impacts on the security and economy of Afghanistan. It will mean putting the ten year gains in education, women and human rights, freedom of expression, democracy and civil society at great stake.

At the same time, the political solution on which there is much emphasize from Afghan and western authorities, seems to be at the discretion of Taliban. It seems a tough job to gather Taliban leadership at one focal point and persuade it to talks.

The Taliban, in action and words, have opposed peace talks with Afghan government. Knowing that the international forces will withdraw from Afghanistan by 2014, the Taliban have been dreaming of victory and downing the current system which they have been pronouncing as "Western puppet." The withdrawal process of NATO troops will do much to deteriorate security condition in Afghanistan which has been the main concern of Afghans in the last ten years.