Carter discusses 3 major decisions regarding Afghanistan
 
  By Karen Parrish, DoD News
  **WASHINGTON (July 13, 2016)  —**Defense Secretary Ash Carter discussed three major decisions that 
the United States has made regarding Afghanistan during a news 
conference yesterday in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Appearing with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Carter noted that
 his third visit to Afghanistan as defense secretary gave him the 
opportunity to discuss with Afghan leaders the U.S. commitments “to 
enhance the authorities of our ground commanders, ... to maintain our 
financial commitment to the Afghan security forces, and third, to retain
 a more substantial U.S. force presence into 2017.” Carter told reporters that a productive day of meetings with 
Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, as well as with 
Afghanistan’s defense and interior ministers, “reaffirmed to me that we 
have strong partners here, with a common vision focused on a secure and 
prosperous future for the Afghan people.” At last week’s NATO summit
 in Warsaw, Poland, Carter noted, coalition partners “confirmed their 
commitment of financial sustainment to Afghan forces and the 
continuation of the Resolute Support Mission.” **Afghan Forces ‘Continue to Step Up’** Carter said Afghan forces, now in their second year providing 
security lead for their own nation, have demonstrated motivation, will 
and resilience in the face of a persistent enemy. “I commend them for 
fighting courageously last year during a tough fighting season, and for 
their continued dedication in the face of formidable challenges this 
year,” he said. Every day, Carter said, nearly 320,000 Afghan soldiers and 
police “are serving and fighting courageously.” The secretary said “far 
too many” members of Afghanistan’s security forces have paid the 
ultimate price and that he and Ghani stand together “in honoring their 
sacrifices.” **Building on Afghan Success** As Afghan forces move further into the lead, Carter said, “we 
are looking to build on their successes to find ways to support and 
enable them more effectively.” Maintaining U.S. force levels in Afghanistan at 8,400 troops
 will enhance the United States’ progress in its two central missions in
 Afghanistan: training, advising and assisting Afghan forces and 
supporting counterterrorism operations, he added. Carter said he and the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen.
 John W. "Mick" Nicholson Jr., discussed President Barack Obama’s recent
 decision to grant additional flexibility in the use of forces. “This 
added flexibility, coupled with new integration of the A29 and MD530 
close air support platforms, reflects our determination to seize every 
opportunity possible to use our resources in theater to the greatest 
possible effect,” the secretary said. **Continuing the Mission** Carter noted that when Ghani visited the Pentagon in March 
2015, the Afghan president thanked U.S. service members and their 
families for their sacrifices. Carter, in his turn, had a message for 
the Afghan people, “who have put themselves at risk and sacrificed so 
much to bring us to this point of promise, potential and strength. We’re
 with you. We stand by you. And we will continue to work hard together 
to finish the mission we started.” The defense secretary also thanked Nicholson and NATO partners,
 as well as American, NATO and Afghan troops “who have served and 
sacrificed together over the past 15 years in the name of peace, 
security and freedom, and who continue that mission today.” Carter visited Afghanistan as part of an overseas trip that began at the NATO summit and also included a visit to Iraq.