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The US Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker said on Saturday that his country is committed to the Lisbon timetable, which means that combat operations by international and Afghan forces are fully resourced and capable as necessary until the end of 2014 and beyond.

The timing of the expected transition in operations towards an Afghan lead in combat operations and an emphasis by international forces on advising, assisting, and training will be determined in the ongoing consultations that are underway with our Afghan and Nato counterparts, he said in a statement on Saturday.

"That transition is based on the progress that is being made on the ground. This is not a change in policy or strategy but recognition of the progress we all agreed to achieve in Lisbon. We are committed to ensuring that Afghanistan cannot again be a safe haven for al-Qaeda or groups that threaten the interests of the Afghan people, the United States, and its allies," Crocker said in the statement.

"We are also committed to an enduring partnership with Afghanistan to obtain greater peace and security in the region, which is in all our interests," he added.

His comments come as the US Defence Minister Leon Panetta on Wednesday said that the United State hoped to end its combat mission in Afghanistan by the middle of next year.

The timetable described by US Defence Minister appeared to be the first time the United States has said it would shift into a supporting role, training and advising Afghan troops, by next year.

His remarks came as France also recently said that it will end combat mission in Afghanistan by the end of 2013.

However, the Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday said, he will stand by its previously agreed plan to wind down operation in Afghanistan by the end of 2014 with any changes to the schedule coordinated with allies.

Nato allies set end of 2014 the completion of handover process to Afghan security forces in 2010 at Lisbon summit.

"That decision and that roadmap still stands," Mr Rasmussen told reporters ahead of the Brussels meeting.

But he said that the final phase of the security transition will be completed by mid 2013 and Nato forces will hold their supportive and training role.

He also emphasised on a coordinated process of transition.

There are around 130,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan most of them US soldiers.