Kabul  - The NATO-commanded International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan have abandoned a remote outpost, days after militants forced their way inside it and killed nine US soldiers, the ISAF said Wednesday.

The ISAF and Afghan forces, however, would continue to have a strong presence in the area and would continue their regular patrols around the nearby village of Wanat in the north-eastern province of Kunar, the ISAF said.

The militants used Wanat to launch Sunday's attack (dpa)