U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani have met in Kabul to discuss U.S.-Afghanistan strategic partnership in support of Afghanistan’s security, DoD News reported Friday.
Terri Moon Cronk writes Carter said at a press conference that U.S. and coalition partners will continue to aid Afghan troops and that the U.S. remains committed to Afghanistan’s security and sovereignty.
Carter noted that combined international community pledges to support Afghan forces amount to approximately $5 billion per year through 2020, Moon Cronk reported.
The secretary added these force and financial commitments support U.S. counterterrorism mission and help maintain the stability of Afghanistan, the U.S. homeland and the coalition.
Afghan and U.S. troops carried out two operations against the Islamic State militant group which killed the organization’s top leader in Afghanistan, according to Carter.
U.S. forces also fought al-Qaida in Afghanistan which led to the death of the group’s top plotter, the report stated.
Carter also honored the sacrifices of Defense Department personnel in Afghanistan including three service members and two contractors who died in a suicide attack at Bagram in November.
