US President Barack Obama said that the US troops who will remain in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the main forces of the Western coalition will face risk, as the republic remains a "dangerous place."
"Our personnel will continue to face risks, but this reflects the enduring commitment of the United States to the Afghan people and to a united, secure and sovereign Afghanistan that is never again used as a source of attacks against our nation," TASS quoted the head of the White House. He also stressed that the country remains a "dangerous place", and in this regard, with the permission of the authorities of the country, "at the invitation of the Afghan government, and to preserve the gains we have made together, the United States, along with our allies and partners, will maintain a limited military presence in Afghanistan for training, advising and assisting Afghan security forces. And we will continue our counterterrorism mission against the remnants of Al-Qaeda."
The completion of US and NATO forces' mission in the country has become, according to Obama, "a milestone" for Afghanistan. "For more than 13 years, ever since nearly 3,000 innocent lives were taken from us on 9/11, our nation has been at war in Afghanistan. Now, thanks to the extraordinary sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, our combat mission in Afghanistan is ending, and the longest war in American history is coming to a responsible conclusion," Obama said.
The international effort in Afghanistan, the American president noted, had devastated the core al-Qaida leadership, delivering justice to Osama bin Laden. In addition, US troops and diplomats had helped Afghans reclaim their communities and move toward democracy.
Separately, Obama thanked the wounded soldiers, assuring them that they will receive the best medical care, and paid tribute to the more than 2 thousand dead "American patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan."
