KABUL - President Barack Obama on Friday said the war in Afghanistan would be over by the end of next year, according to international media reports.

“By the end of next year, the war in Afghanistan will be over, just as we’ve ended our war in Iraq, and we’ll continue to bring our troops home,” the president told his year-end news conference.

However, he hastened to add that his administration would remain vigilant, as always, to protect the country and its personnel overseas from terrorist attacks.

“And let me conclude by saying just as we're strengthening our position here at home, we're also standing up for our interests around the world,” he said before jetting off to Hawaii for vacation.

Obama also cited his diplomatic initiatives during the year to make the world more secure, including efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear weapon ambitions and destruction of Syria’s chemical arms stockpiles. (Pajhwok)