Washington, Oct 28 (PTI) The US forces may focus on securing 10 major cities in Afghanistan and withdraw from isolated pockets in the country's remote borders as part of new American strategy for the country.

After weeks of in-depth meetings President Barack Obama's advisers are veering round to the strategy to protect 10 populated cities like Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif, Kunduz, Herat and hotly contested Helmand river valley, New York Times reported as Obama neared a decision whether or not to send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

Quoting military officers, the paper said that pressure would be maintained in remote regions by using surveillance drones and to use special forces once intelligence about Taliban and al-Qaeda concentrations came in.