The US is abandoning plans to cut the number of its forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by the end of the year, bowing to military leaders who want to keep more troops there.

Officials said the administration is poised to slow withdrawal plans and probably will allow many of the 9,800 American troops to remain well into next year.

There are also discussions about keeping a steady number of counter terrorism troops into 2015, including options under which some would remain in the country or be nearby beyond 2016.

About 2000 US troops are conducting counter terrorism missions in the country and military leaders have argued that they will need to continue pursuing the remnants of al Qaeda and to monitor Islamic State militants looking to recruit in Afghanistan.

President Barack Obama will probably use a Washington visit by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani this month as the time to announce his decision on a new withdrawal timeline.

Officials said it's not clear yet whether the White House will agree to a small, symbolic decrease by the end of this year or insist on a larger cut. They note that there is some stiff opposition to any change, largely from national security adviser Susan Rice.

The 2016 deadline is considered a politically crucial national security goal for Mr Obama, who promised to get all troops out by the end of his presidency, ending America's longest war.

Mr Obama, who also pledged to end the war in Iraq, has had to send troops back there to help Iraqi forces fight Islamic State militants. So his promise to withdraw troops from Afghanistan has taken on more political importance.