Barack Obama says the United States needs an exit strategy for Afghanistan to make sure Washington's policy there does not end up in a perpetual drift.
The US president was speaking in an American television interview, as his administration prepares to unveil what it describes as a comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan.
Mr Obama said a military approach alone would not be enough to achieve Washington's objectives in Afghanistan which includes the defeat of the Taliban.
He said steps could be taken to strengthen the Afghan economy and improve diplomatic efforts in Pakistan.
His comments echoed those made earlier to the BBC by the US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Richard Holbrook said American policy for the two countries would no longer be separated and that Taliban strongholds in Pakistan's tribal areas along the Afghan border were the number one problem for Afghanistan.
