(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ISLAMABAD, July 12 (KUNA) -- The US Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter on Tuesday reaffirmed commitment to Afghanistan during his unannounced visit to capital city Kabul to meet senior US military commanders and Afghan leaders.
At a joint press conference with Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani in Kabul the Carter said both the US and its allies intended to remain fully committed to the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.
"I have confidence in the ability of Afghan forces to provide the security and stability that the Afghan people deserve. The presence of US forces in Afghanistan will enhance our ability to continue progress on our two central missions in Afghanistan," he said, adding "we will continue to work hard together to finish the mission we started. I thank all of the American, NATO and Afghan troops who have served and sacrificed together." The Defense Secretary's second stop in a war zone after Iraq came days after US President Barack Obama announced that the US would keep 8,400 troops in Afghanistan in 2017 instead of reducing their numbers to 5,500. Earlier on Sunday, Afghan President met NATO leaders at the NATO heads of state summit in Poland, Warsaw and discussed the security situation in Afghanistan and the reform process carried out by the Afghan National Unity Government.
The international leaders agreed to support war-torn Afghanistan with about 12,000 NATO troops and funding pledge of USD five billion a year for Afghan National Defense and Security Forces through 2020. (end) sbk.hb