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U.S. defense chief visits Afghanistan

Xinhua, December 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited Afghanistan on Friday to consult with Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and senior U.S. military officials, the Pentagon said.

According to a Pentagon statement, Carter will meet with senior U.S. officers, including U.S. Army Gen. John Nicholson Jr., commander of NATO's Resolute Support mission, to hear their assessment of the security situation there.

"In his meetings with senior Afghan officials, the secretary will discuss the growing capabilities and resilience demonstrated by Afghan security forces in recent months," the statement added.

Carter's unannounced visit to Afghanistan came amid uncertainty over U.S. future mission there after U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office next January.

There are currently 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan despite the Obama administration's original plan to withdraw all U.S. troops before leaving office. Enditem