NEW : Other nations , such as the Netherlands , Norway and France , have withdrawn troops . François Hollande tells Afghan troops `` their task has come to an end in Afghanistan '' Afghan leader Hamid Karzai praises France 's longstanding support for Afghanistan . NATO countries are trying to figure out how to meet a 2014 deadline to withdraw from an unpopular war in Afghanistan while shoring up that nation 's security forces . Hollande reaffirms France 's decision to withdraw 2,000 troops by the end of 2011 .
NEW : Other nations , such as the Netherlands , Norway and France , have withdrawn troops . François Hollande tells Afghan troops `` their task has come to an end in Afghanistan '' Afghan leader Hamid Karzai praises France 's longstanding support for Afghanistan . Hollande reaffirms France 's decision to withdraw 2,000 troops by the end of 2011 .