Nato combat role in Afghanistan to end next year, Leon Panetta says "Hopefully by the mid to latter part of 2013 we'll be able to make a transition from a combat role to a training, advise and assist role," he told the Associated Press, adding that Nato troops would remain "combat-ready" in the event of a Taliban surge. He would not comment on whether the transition from fighting to training in late 2013 would mean a faster withdrawal of US troops. There are currently 91,000 American soldiers in Afghanistan, scheduled to be reduced to 68,000 by September. Mr Panetta said next year would be critical for the success of the international mission in Afghanistan, noting that key provinces are scheduled to be transferred to the control of the Afghan security forces. His comments came after a week in which France urged Nato to end its mission by the end next year, 12 months earlier than previously agreed. President Nicolas Sarkozy made the surprise announcement at joint press conference with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, causing consternation in both London and Washington that France could withdraw its 4,000 troops early. Mr Panetta said he would speak to the French delegation at the two-day meeting at Nato headquarters which will being Thursday.