US forces would begin a "gradual and responsible transition" in July 2011 conditional on the readiness of Afghanistan's own police and army to take over the security of their war-battered country, Karl Eikenberry said.

"US combat forces will start to return from Afghanistan in July 2011. It is not a deadline, despite what some in both the United States and Afghanistan have said," he told a gathering of senior Afghan officials and mostly Western diplomats.

"Our troops will begin a gradual and responsible transition in 2011, taking into account the conditions on the ground and Afghanistan's ability to handle its security requirements," he said.

US President Barack Obama has pledged an extra 30,000 troops to bolster the 71,000 already fighting a Taliban-led insurgency that has become more virulent and deadly in the past year.

In a major speech unveiling a new fast-track war strategy, Obama said the surge would see troops in Afghanistan "seize the initiative" to end the unpopular war and begin pulling out in July 2011.

It was the first time Obama had set a draw-down date for US forces in Afghanistan, as he groped for an exit from a conflict many backers see as similar to Vietnam.

The date has been seized on as a deadline for US withdrawal, though Eikenberry was eager to dispel the impression the US had set an exit date.

US troops serve with forces from more than 40 NATO countries, which together total more than 113,000. NATO members have pledged up to 7,000 more troops between them, bringing the surge to 37,000.

"Before our force levels begin to decline, US and other NATO troops will powerfully increase, in order to fight alongside Afghan forces until the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) are able to handle the security threats they face on their own," Eikenberry said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has welcomed the timeline for the reduction of US forces as an opportunity to build up its security forces and self-sufficiency.

Sworn in last month for another five years in office after a disastrous election tainted by massive fraud, Karzai used his inauguration speech to pledge that Afghan forces will take over national security before his tenure ends.

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