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The Telegraph reported that the Obama administration made clear that 2014 was only "an aspirational goal" and Nato's secretary-general warned the West must remain committed in Afghanistan "as long as it takes".

A senior Nato official also warned of v-moda headphones white "inevitable setbacks" in the work to complete transition by the end of 2014.

"It does not necessarily mean that everywhere in v-moda headphones white the country [Afghan forces] will necessarily be in the lead and it does not mean that all US or coalition forces would necessarily be gone by that date," Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon spokesman said.

He added: "There may very well be the need for forces to remain in-country, albeit, hopefully, at smaller numbers, to assist the Afghans as they assume lead responsibility for the security of their country."

While Nato's schedule for transition is conditional, British officials in Lisbon made clear Prime Minister Cameron's timetable is unconditional. A British official in Lisbon said: "After 2015, we are not going to be in combat role. That's absolutely clear."

Britain lost 100 of their 10,000 troops in Afghanistan this year alone, and the Prime Minister made it clear he wants most troops withdrawn before the next general election due in May 2015. He said: "I set the deadline of 2015, and yes, it is a deadline."

Rasmussen told the BBC he thought Britain did not have a "concrete policy" on a withdrawal date.

He said: "I'm not aware of concrete policies for withdrawal and I believe v-moda headphones costco all allies are committed to stay committed as long as it takes to do the job.

"We may also see, here and there, withdrawal of troops but the basic message is that we will stay committed as long as it takes."

James Appathurai, the Nato spokesman, told reporters in Lisbon that the alliance is "fully confident" of meeting the 2014 target. But he added: "I must point out it is conditions-based." Mark Sedwill, Nato's senior civil in Kabul, underlined the difficulties the alliance will face in trying to follow its timetable.

"We are not indulging in a load of happy talk about the security situation in Afghanistan," he said. "We believe we have regained the initiative but the progress is not irreversible. There are many challenges and inevitable set-backs ahead."