WASHINGTON (July 13, 2016) —
Defense Secretary Ash Carter discussed three major decisions that
the United States has made regarding Afghanistan during a news
conference yesterday in the Afghan capital of Kabul.
Appearing with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Carter noted that
his third visit to Afghanistan as defense secretary gave him the
opportunity to discuss with Afghan leaders the U.S. commitments “to
enhance the authorities of our ground commanders, … to maintain our
financial commitment to the Afghan security forces, and third, to retain
a more substantial U.S. force presence into 2017.”
Carter told reporters that a productive day of meetings with
Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, as well as with
Afghanistan’s defense and interior ministers, “reaffirmed to me that we
have strong partners here, with a common vision focused on a secure and
prosperous future for the Afghan people.”
At last week’s NATO summit
in Warsaw, Poland, Carter noted, coalition partners “confirmed their
commitment of financial sustainment to Afghan forces and the
continuation of the Resolute Support Mission.”
Afghan Forces ‘Continue to Step Up’
Carter said Afghan forces, now in their second year providing
security lead for their own nation, have demonstrated motivation, will
and resilience in the face of a persistent enemy. “I commend them for
fighting courageously last year during a tough fighting season, and for
their continued dedication in the face of formidable challenges this
year,” he said.
Every day, Carter said, nearly 320,000 Afghan soldiers and
police “are serving and fighting courageously.” The secretary said “far
too many” members of Afghanistan’s security forces have paid the
ultimate price and that he and Ghani stand together “in honoring their
sacrifices.”
Building on Afghan Success
As Afghan forces move further into the lead, Carter said, “we
are looking to build on their successes to find ways to support and
enable them more effectively.” Maintaining U.S. force levels in Afghanistan at 8,400 troops
will enhance the United States’ progress in its two central missions in
Afghanistan: training, advising and assisting Afghan forces and
supporting counterterrorism operations, he added.
Carter said he and the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen.
John W. "Mick" Nicholson Jr., discussed President Barack Obama’s recent
decision to grant additional flexibility in the use of forces. “This
added flexibility, coupled with new integration of the A29 and MD530
close air support platforms, reflects our determination to seize every
opportunity possible to use our resources in theater to the greatest
possible effect,” the secretary said.
Continuing the Mission
Carter noted that when Ghani visited the Pentagon in March
2015, the Afghan president thanked U.S. service members and their
families for their sacrifices. Carter, in his turn, had a message for
the Afghan people, “who have put themselves at risk and sacrificed so
much to bring us to this point of promise, potential and strength. We’re
with you. We stand by you. And we will continue to work hard together
to finish the mission we started.”
The defense secretary also thanked Nicholson and NATO partners,
as well as American, NATO and Afghan troops “who have served and
sacrificed together over the past 15 years in the name of peace,
security and freedom, and who continue that mission today.”
Carter visited Afghanistan as part of an overseas trip that began at the NATO summit and also included a visit to Iraq.