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08:30 GMT
LONDON, July 21 (KUNA) -- The withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan could start as early as next year, British Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
US president Barack Obama has talked about beginning the pull-out of American soldiers from July 2011.
The prime minister told the BBC domestic radio Wednesday the same could be expected of UK forces "based on conditions on the ground".
A major conference in Afghanistan yesterday backed a plan that would see Afghan forces lead security operations across the country by 2014.
Cameron was asked by the BBC whether people could expect British forces to follow the Americans in starting to pull out of Afghanistan from next year.
The prime minister said "Yes we can, but it should be based on the conditions on the ground. The faster we can transition districts and provinces to Afghan control, clearly the faster that some forces can be brought home.
"I don't want to raise expectations about that because that transition should be based on how well the security situation is progressing.
He added, "What I have said is, people in Britain should understand we're not going to be there in five years' time, in 2015, with combat troops or large numbers because I think it's important to give people an end date by which we won't be continuing in that way.
"But I hope that with the strategy that we have - the build-up of the Afghan army, the transitioning of districts and provinces, as the president said - it will be possible to bring some troops home." Cameron was speaking in Washington, where he discussed the Afghan war with President Obama.
Cameron has already set deadlines of 2014 for Afghan forces to take charge of security and 2015 for the withdrawal of combat troops. (end) he.asa KUNA 211130 Jul 10NNNN