Readout of Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper’s Meeting With Afghan National Security Leadership
Oct. 21, 2019

Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Minister of Defense Asadullah Khalid, Minister of Interior Massoud Andarabi and Acting Director General of the National Directorate of Security Ahmad Zia Saraj Oct. 20-21 in Kabul, Afghanistan to reaffirm the strategic security partnership between the United States and the Government of Afghanistan.

The leaders discussed mutual security concerns, including the importance of countering terrorism in the region and sustaining progress of the Afghan security forces.

Secretary Esper and President Ghani discussed the U.S. commitment to the Resolute Support mission and the strength of our partnership.

The leaders agreed that Afghanistan must never again become a safe haven for terrorists to attack the U.S.

Secretary Esper also commended the Ministers and the Acting Director General for the Afghan security forces’ achievements in providing security for the Afghan people during recent elections.