KABUL - A total of 40,000 troops will exit Afghanistan by the end of 2012. The US will withdraw 33,000 troops by the end of next year, a third of the 101,000 American troops that were here during the peak of military presence in Afghanistan. Other countries will also cut their troop numbers.
Many nations will keep some soldiers in the country to train and mentor Afghan troops. They have also pledged to continue financial aid after 2014 when all international combat troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan.

The Afghan government on Sunday announced the second phase of security transition to local troops. Afghan forces will take over the responsibility for providing security in 18 new areas.

There are currently around 130,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan fighting insurgents in Afghanistan; 90,000 of those are from the US.

By the end of this year, about 14,000 foreign troops will leave Afghanistan, according to an Associated Press tally. The US is returning 10,000 service members home by the end of 2011.