WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has signed orders to cut the American troops in Afghanistan from 19,000 to 16,000 next spring, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

    He signed the orders on Monday, and a formal Pentagon announcement is expected for Tuesday, the Times reported.

    Under the plan, the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan will be reduced to 16,000 by next spring from the current 19,000.

    The decision was made after the NATO agreed to take over the control in southern Afghanistan from U.S. troops next year. Additional Afghan security forces, which now number 27,000 soldiers and 55,000 policemen, will also take on additional security duties around the nation.

    "The overall level of security forces in the country, NATO's role, and the political developments are all moving in the right direction," Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita said during an interview.

    The NATO is to expand its 9,000-strong peacekeeping force to about 15,000 early next year, covering mission in the whole country, including the more volatile south, where many insurgents base.    Enditem