German official: Panetta tells NATO US to leave 8,000-12,000 troops in Afghanistan

BRUSSELS – A German official is saying Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has told NATO allies that the U.S. will leave between 8,000-12,000 American troops in Afghanistan after 2014, when combat ends.

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters Friday that Panetta informed him of the numbers.

U.S. officials have yet to say publicly how many American troops will remain in Afghanistan after 2014.