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        US Defense Chief: US 'Rethinking' Details of Afghanistan Mission

   by VOA News

   The new U.S. defense secretary, Ashton Carter, says the United States
   is "rethinking details" of its counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan,
   including whether to slow down the withdrawal of U.S. troops, whose
   mission is changing from combat to training as Afghan troops take on
   responsibility for the fight against the Taliban.

   On his first trip abroad since becoming Pentagon chief earlier this
   week, Carter made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan Saturday, where
   he told reporters the United States is reassessing counterterrorism
   needs in the country. He said the issue is on the agenda when Afghan
   President Ashraf Ghani visits Washington next month.

   Carter said he is in Afghanistan to assess how to ensure long-term
   success of the U.S. mission there. He said U.S. President Barack Obama
   wants him to make his own assessment about the presence of U.S. troops
   in Afghanistan and has not ruled out slowing down the expected
   withdrawal of troops if necessary.

   Carter met with President Ghani, discussing both the drawdown and
   Afghan efforts to fight the Taliban. President Ghani told reporters
   that prospects for peace with the Taliban are better now than they have
   been in more than three decades, although he gave few details. He said
   "the direction is positive" but added he would not make "premature
   announcements."

   Carter is also scheduled to meet with U.S. troops during his visit.

   About 10,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan.

   Before taking office, Carter told the U.S. Senate he could reconsider
   plans to pull all U.S. forces out of Afghanistan by the end of the
   year. But he said that would depend on the security situation.

   He also said he would work with U.S. coalition partners to make sure
   the Islamic State militant group does not expand from the Middle East
   into Afghanistan.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-carter-afghanistan-mission/2653294
   .html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-carter-afghanistan-mission/2653294.html