United States Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with senior American and Afghan officials in Kabul on Sunday and praised them for their efforts on the transition to Afghan-led security.
Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said Carter spoke with Afghan Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi and Interior Minister Ghulam Mujtaba Patang, and congratulated them on the progress made by Afghan forces toward taking the country's security responsibilities.
Carter and the two Ministers pledged "to continue to work together on a number of important issues, including the sustained development of the Afghan national security forces, human capital development and a range of issues related to security transition."
Carter also praised the Ministers for their "dedication to improving the professionalism and capabilities of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police," Little said.
Earlier on Sunday, he had met with Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, and other senior ISAF officials.
During that meeting Carter commended them for their efforts and reiterated the U.S. commitment to a secure and sovereign Afghanistan.
Following his meeting with Dunford, Carter joined about 300 military and civilian personnel outside the ISAF headquarters building for a weekly memorial service honoring fallen coalition and Afghan personnel.
The Deputy Secretary is on the third leg of a week-long overseas trip, and his meetings in Afghanistan are intended to underline U.S. support for the ongoing development of the Afghan security forces, according to a Pentagon press release.
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