KABUL (SW): U.S. Secretary of Defence Ash Carter made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan Friday.
Carter is set to consult with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the presidential palace in Kabul and meet with US military commanders and thank the troops at Bagram Air Base.
According to the U.S. media, it is still not clear how the new administration in Washington under the President-elect Donald Trump will steer policy in Afghanistan. Trump’s first appointments suggest that he will receive advice that favours a more robust American role in the fight there, CNN has reported.
There are now 9,800 American service members in Afghanistan. The commander of the international coalition there, US Gen. John Nicholson, told reporters last week at the Pentagon that the number of US forces would be reduced to 8,450 by 2017.
There are also some 6,000 additional international troops participating in the NATO-led mission aimed at training and advising Afghan forces in their fight against terror groups.
Gen. James Mattis, Turmp’s pick to replace Carter has served at the US Central Command from 2010 to 2013
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