The United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, said today in Kabul the support of his country to end its mission in Afghanistan, and that goal will not only keep troops but also increase his command to serve even better to Afghan forces in the fight against insurgents.
The Pentagon chief traveled surprise to China a few days after US President Barack Obama has confirmed that it will keep more soldiers than originally planned and that NATO also confirmed its military and financial support at their summit in Warsaw last weekend.
On his third visit to Afghanistan, Carter moved to Afghan President Ashraf Gani, Obama's decision that the commander of US troops in the Asian country, John Nicholson, have more powers to help Afghan forces.
"We are with you and will continue to work hard together to finish the mission we have begun," he said at a news conference accompanied by the President Gani.
"The continued presence in Afghanistan will improve our ability to continue progress in our two core missions," he said in reference to the fight against terrorism and assistance to Afghan forces.
Obama announced last Wednesday that the United States will keep about 8,400 of its current 9,800 troops in Afghanistan when he leaves the White House next January, compared with the 5,500 originally planned.
Two days earlier, a group of Republican senators who visited US troops in Kabul defended the permanence of its troops in Afghanistan, warning that a reduction would produce the "nightmare" that in his view led to the withdrawal from Iraq.
Obama's announcement is part of the "important decisions" on Afghanistan, in the words of Secretary of Defense, the US president wanted to leave before finishing tied its mandate.
"First, increase the powers of General Nicholson," said the Pentagon official, although without elaborating.
However, he said the goal is simply to improve their effectiveness on Afghan soil in supporting the forces of China, to be even more able not only to respond to Taliban attacks, but also to anticipate them.
If so far US troops were acting in support of Afghan following an attack on a "logical change" from now on they will also support them from the moment they detect the plans of the insurgents, preventing their actions.
This higher command authority has shown that "plays a vital role" in the success of the police and Afghan army against the insurgents, stressed, meanwhile, Afghan President.
After a little over a month Obama authorized an increase in airstrikes if necessary, it is clear that "we were doing in three or six months last year, this year we are doing so in three hours or three days" Gani said.
Afghanistan will need support as the Taliban continue to reject the proposal for dialogue launched by the Government through the so-called Group Four which also includes the United States, Pakistan and China, said the official.
The initiative aims to end nearly fifteen years of conflict since the 2001 US invasion ended the Taliban regime.
military and financial aid, including 5,000 billion annually until 2020 committed by NATO in Warsaw for the maintenance of Afghan forces.
A background in Afghanistan will "increase its share" in coming years, said Gani in the presence of Carter.
NATO leaders also agreed last weekend to keep in 2017 the same volume of troops, about 12,000 in its mission of training, advice and assistance for Afghan forces.
Carter landed at the US military base at Bagram, about 60 kilometers from Kabul, before going to the Afghan capital to meet with the president and the head of the Afghan government, Abdullah Abdullah, in addition to holding meetings with commanders of US troops and Afghan.
The Taliban have gained ground in Afghanistan since NATO ended in 2014 its combat mission and now control about a third of Afghan territory, according to US estimates.