KABUL, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Friday said that the United States was committed to long-term support to the militancy-hit Afghanistan.
"We stand with the people of Afghanistan who have put themselves at risk and sacrificed so much. We will continue to stand with you,"Carter told reporters at a joint press briefing with Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.
Carter arrived in Afghanistan earlier on Friday for a pre-Christmas visit to American troops.
This is the fourth visit of the Pentagon chief to Afghanistan since assuming office and the second tour to the war-torn country since NATO summit in Warsaw in July, during which the military alliance decided to continue funding Afghan security forces until 2020.
Carter praised Afghan security forces' role in providing security to their country.
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