New U.S. Defense chief hints at slower troop drawdown in Afghanistan - latimes

Ashton Carter, the new U.S. secretary of Defense, said Saturday that he will advise President Obama to consider adjusting the drawdown of American troops from Afghanistan due in part to its stronger relationship with the country’s new unity government.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Ashraf Ghani, the Afghan president, Carter said any reasessment will reflect the "reality on the ground.”

The new Pentagon chief, sworn in Tuesday, said a final decision on the withdrawal of the 10,000 remaining U.S. troops will be made by Obama and Ghani during the Afghan president’s visit to Washington next month.

Carter said the U.S. priority is to ensure that progress continues. “That’s why,” he said, there could be “possible changes to the timeline for our drawdown of U.S. troops.”
One major sign of confidence for Washington, said Carter, was Afghanistan’s government.

Based on an agreement brokered by Secretary of State John Kerry and the United Nations, the Afghan unity government sought to bring an end to a nearly yearlong election cycle marred by allegations of widespread government-assisted fraud by creating the new position of chief executive for Abdullah Abdullah, Ghani’s main election rival.

Carter characterized the new government as a “major change ... that just a few months ago we couldn't have planned on.” 

Carter’s visit comes as the Ghani administration looks for ways to begin negotiations with Taliban insurgents. Recent media reports have suggested that the group is ready to restart talks with the Afghan government, possibly also involving Washington, in the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar.

Addressing the prospects of negotiations, Ghani would say only: “Grounds for peace have never been better in the last 36 years.… The direction is positive but we can't make premature announcements.”

A post on Ghani’s official Twitter account also alluded to the prospect of peace talks.

 “We have initiated a comprehensive effort for establishing lasting peace in Afghanistan. The process will be inclusive and fully transparent,” the tweet read.   Read More at New U.S. Defense chief

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