NATO may station troops in Afghanistan NATO may station up to 12,000 troops in Afghanistan to train and assist Kabul's forces after the alliance's combat mission there against the Taliban ends in 2014, US officials say. US Pentagon spokesman George Little said on Friday NATO was considering deployment of between 8000 and 12,000 troops, including any US contribution, but no final decision has yet been made. Reports of a US presence alone of 8000 to 12,000 troops "are not correct," he added.