Washington, February 18 (RHC)-- A new report says the Barack Obama administration is making plans to launch drone strikes from bases in Central Asia in case the United States is forced to withdraw from Afghanistan this year.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has so far refused to sign a long-term deal to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Unnamed U.S. officials told the Los Angeles Times the CIA’s ability to launch drone strikes in Pakistan would be greatly hindered by the loss of drone bases in Afghanistan.

The U.S. plan to shift to bases further north could involve the use of a new jet-powered drone called the "Avenger," which is faster than the current Predator and Reaper drones.