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U.S. defense secretary makes pre-Christmas visit to troops in Afghanistan

Xinhua, December 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter paid a pre-Christmas visit to American troops in Afghanistan on Friday.

"Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived in Afghanistan earlier on Friday," a source told Xinhua.

Carter will meet the U.S. forces and military commanders to extend Christmas greetings in addition to holding meetings with some Afghan leaders, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The U.S.- and NATO-led troops ended their combat mission at the end of 2014, switching to a support role which focuses on training, advising and assisting Afghan forces since Jan. 1 this year.

Nearly 13,000 foreign forces, including some 6,800 U.S. military personnel, are now stationed in the country for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission. Enditem