US will remain committed to Afghanistan: Ashton Carter

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has praised the growing capabilities and resilience that Afghan security forces have demonstrated this year in battling the Taliban insurgency and conducting joint operations with American partners against Islamic State terrorists. 

During his final visit to Afghanistan as head of the Pentagon before President-elect Donald Trump takes command of America's longest war. 

Carter during a joint news conference with President Ashraf Ghani



said that the United States presence and continued support to Afghan forces and strategic partnership with the government of Afghanistan demonstrates to the world that America is and will remain committed to a sovereign and secure Afghanistan.

 

Around 10,000 American troops are in Afghanistan. They are tasked to conduct counterterrorism operations against Al Qaeda and IS terrorists, and to train and advise Afghan forces under the larger NATO mission called Resolute Support.