The new U.S. secretary of defense, Ashton Carter, visited Afghanistan on February 21 to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Carter announced that the U.S. is likely to slow troop withdrawal. Just 3 months earlier, the former U.S. secretary of defense Chuck Hagel had said that the U.S. would not change its troop withdrawal plan. 　

Carter's visit showed that the US continues to lay emphasis on Afghanistan. He said that the US is considering beefing up its support to Afghanistan security, including adjusting the timing of the withdrawal. Current US military planning would see the number of American troops in Afghanistan cut to 5,500 by the end of 2016.

Carter had already trailed his surprise declaration. He said that he would actively deal with Afghanistan’s struggle with the Taliban. There is no doubt that the declaration is directly related to the Taliban’s attacks. The U.S does not want to see any further escalation.

Experts believe that the Taliban will continue its attacks in Afghanistan to impose pressure on the government. Keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan contributes to the stability of the region. If the talks between the Taliban and the government are restarted, the troops in the region will provide a form of invisible support to the government.

The U.S. is likely to consider adjusting the timing of its troop withdrawal plans. But given the current situation, the troop withdrawal plan will not be aborted. The U.S. puts its strategic center of gravity in the Asia-Pacific region, so it is natural that the U.S. is reluctant to be fettered by problems in Afghanistan. However, the U.S. will not turn a blind eye to problems there, given the country's important geopolitical value. It can be foreseen that the U.S. will maintain its presence in the region for a long time.

This article was edited and translated from 《美国阿富汗政策会改变吗？》, source: People's Daily Overseas Edition, Author: Li Jidong