Unexpected Visit’s of Chuck Hagel in Afghanistan

KABUL: (Middle East Press) The US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has arrived in Afghanistan following an unexpected visit on Saturday, reports say.

His visit to Afghanistan comes as the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission will officially conclude by the end of this month.

Before landing to Afghanistan, Hagel told reporters that Afghanistan had “come a long way” over the past decade and that a newly-elected Afghan government and its military were ready to take charge as the bulk of the international force departs by the end of the month.

This comes as NATO is due to launch a new non-combat mission – Resolute Support Mission next year.

The new NATO operation will be launched as Afghanistan concluded a bilateral security agreement with Washington and a similar agreement with NATO later last month after President Ghani approved the two agreements which were agreed by lower and higher house of the parliament.