Monday, July 18, 2011 – According to government authorities, Afghan president Hamid Karzai met with Mike Mullen, US Chairman of Joint of Chiefs of staff on Sunday. Both sides discussed security and US-Afghanistan long term strategic relationship.
In a statement released by presidential palace says, president Hamid Karzai and Mike Mullen discussed regional situation, Afghan peace talks with the Taliban and other anti-government armed groups, security transition from foreign force to Afghan security forces and US-Afghanistan long term strategic agreement.
In the meantime, United States on Friday started pulling its troops out of Afghanistan as planned.
At the first phase of troops withdrawal from Afghanistan, around 700 US troops have recently flown out of Afghanistan from Bagram Airfield.
US president Barack Obama earlier this year announced that 33,000 troops will leave the country by the end of 2012.
According to reports the United States plans to withdraw the rest of its troops from Afghanistan by 2014.
On the other hand, the first phase of security transition from foreign forces to Afghan security forces started on Sunday. Foreign forces handed over the security responsibility of Bamyan province to Afghan security forces as planned.
Foreign troops will leave Afghanistan after completion of the security transition process.
Together with the NATO-led International security assistance forces commandment handover from General David Patreus to US army General John Allen, US ambassador will also end his Afghanistan mission in a few days.
According to reports, Ryan Crocker is going to replace US ambassador Karl Eikenberry.
