KABUL - Troops from Britain and the United Arab Emirates may stay in Afghanistan after 2014 to support local forces, a senior UK defense official said yesterday.
International combat troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and transfer the responsibility for providing security to the Afghan National Security Forces.

Lord Astor, a British parliamentary undersecretary of state for defense, spoke yesterday during a trip to the UAE aimed encouraging ties between the UK and the Emirates.

"We will be there after 2014 to help them in a mentoring role and I imagine your country may leave a number of people," Lord Astor said.

Emirati troops are currently helping to train the Afghan military.

The UK has about 10,000 troops in Afghanistan and the UAE has deployed 250 mentors.

Previously, the British Ambassador to Afghanistan, William Patey, said in a exclusive interview with Tolo news said that UK will sign a strategic agreement with Afghanistan ensuring continued co-operation between the two nations. He warned the Taliban that Afghanistan will not be left alone without international support.