President Obama Hosts President Karzai

President Barack Obama and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan participate in a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

By Matt Compton

President Obama (Jan. 11): "Starting this spring, our troops will have a different mission -- training, advising, assisting Afghan forces. It will be an historic moment and another step toward full Afghan sovereignty."

President Obama hosted Afghan President Hamid Karzai today at the White House for talks on the partnership between our two nations and the role of U.S. troops in that country.

And coming out of those talks, President Obama was able to discuss a milestone we'll reach this year when Afghan forces take full responsibility for their nation's security and the war draws to a close.

"This progress is only possible because of the incredible sacrifices of our troops and our diplomats, the forces of our many coalition partners, and the Afghan people who’ve endured extraordinary hardship," he said. "In this war, more than 2,000 of America’s sons and daughters have given their lives. These are patriots that we honor today, tomorrow, and forever."

In his statement, President Karzai echoed that message.

"During our conversations...I thanked the President for the help that the United States has given to the Afghan people," he said, "for all that we have gained in the past 10 years, and that those gains will be kept by any standard while we are working for peace and stability in Afghanistan, including the respect for Afghan constitution."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai's Visit

By Nick Simeone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2013 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will meet separately this week with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Pentagon Press Secretary George E. Little told reporters today, adding that the war in Afghanistan and the conflict in Syria remain key issues on Panetta’s agenda as he enters what are expected to be his final weeks in office.

Karzai will be given full military honors when he visits the Pentagon Jan. 10 for what Little said will be discussions on a broad range of issues concerning Afghanistan’s future.

In particular, Little said, the visit will be “an opportunity to discuss the ongoing transition to the Afghan security lead and our enduring commitment to Afghanistan following the completion of transition at the end of 2014,” when the U.S-led NATO mission in Afghanistan is set to conclude.

While no announcements have been made about U.S. troop levels after that date, Obama and Karzai signed an agreement in May which, after more than a decade of war, called for an enduring strategic partnership, with U.S forces continuing to train Afghan security forces and conducting counterterror operations.

“It’s not just about troop numbers in Afghanistan, it’s also about a bilateral security agreement, progress on the peace process and a range of other issues and we think there will be a very productive discussion,” Little said.

Panetta will accompany Karzai on a tour of the 9/11 Memorial, built adjacent to the Pentagon to remember the 184 people who lost their lives when al-Qaida terrorists flew a jet into the nation’s defense headquarters.

Karzai will meet with Obama at the White House on Jan. 11.