U.S. President Barack Obama will announce later Tuesday that he plans to keep 9,800 troops in Afghanistan at the end of 2014.

The troops will continue training Afghan forces and supporting operations against al-Qaida, reported Politico, a local media at its website, citing a senior administration official.

"We will only sustain a military presence after 2014 if the Afghan government signs the Bilateral Security Agreement," Politico quoted the official as saying.

The official was referring to the document that so far outgoing Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign but two other candidates of the Afghan presidential election have said they would if they get elected.

Under Obama's plan, the 9,800 troops would be reduced by half by the end of 2015 and will be further cut to a normal embassy presence by the end of 2016, according to the official.

Obama is scheduled to deliver a statement on Afghanistan in the White House Rose Garden Tuesday afternoon. Endite

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