The leading U.S. diplomat on Afghanistan has dismissed the possibility the United States might withdraw all troops from Afghanistan at the end of the combat mission next year. The remarks by James Dobbins came after reports President Obama is seriously considering a total withdrawal following tensions with Afghan President Hamid Karzai over peace talks with the Taliban. Dobbins spoke before a Senate committee Thursday.

James Dobbins: “Without an agreement on our presence in Afghanistan, we would not remain. But we do not believe that that’s the likely outcome of these negotiations. Unlike Iraq, to which comparisons are often made, the Afghans actually need us to stay.”