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Defense Secretary Philip Hammond announced the plan Sunday. The removal of the 1,000s of troops will come a year before the planned 2014 removal for all U.S. troops, reports the Daily Beast.

At the end of this year, 500 British troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan leaving 9,000. Many of these troops, but not the majority, will be withdrawn the following year, reports Reuters.

Many NATO members' defense budgets, including Britain's budget, are under pressure, forcing spending cuts. Britain's Treasury said earlier this year that it would use money previously earmarked for Afghanistan military operations to fund tax cuts.

Reach Senior News Editor Hannah Madans here.