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Chuck Hagel to visit Pakistan for talks on Afghanistan and security Chuck Hagel to visit Pakistan for talks on Afghanistan and security
(about 4 hours later)
The defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, said on Sunday that he will visit Pakistan on Monday, a rare stop for a Pentagon chief in recent years. The defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, said on Sunday that he will visit Pakistan on Monday, a rare stop for a Pentagon chief in recent years. He also told US troops that a possible budget agreement in Washington this week could ease spending cuts affecting the military.
US relations with Pakistan have seesawed because of drone strikes and military operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, though there have been some signs of improvement. The prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, met President Barack Obama in late October.US relations with Pakistan have seesawed because of drone strikes and military operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, though there have been some signs of improvement. The prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, met President Barack Obama in late October.
Hagel plans to see Sharif and other officials. Expected topics include Afghanistan and security threats. On Sunday, a report by Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted President Hassan Rouhani as telling the visiting Afghan president, Hamid Karzai: "We believe that all foreign forces should leave the region and that the security of Afghanistan should be handed over to people of the country."Hagel plans to see Sharif and other officials. Expected topics include Afghanistan and security threats. On Sunday, a report by Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted President Hassan Rouhani as telling the visiting Afghan president, Hamid Karzai: "We believe that all foreign forces should leave the region and that the security of Afghanistan should be handed over to people of the country."
Iran has long opposed a planned agreement to allow US forces to remain stationed on its doorstep in Afghanistan. The two countries have about 580 miles of common borders.Iran has long opposed a planned agreement to allow US forces to remain stationed on its doorstep in Afghanistan. The two countries have about 580 miles of common borders.
The US is pressing Karzai to sign the deal to extend its military presence past 2014, when Nato and United Nations mandates expire and all foreign troops leave the country.The US is pressing Karzai to sign the deal to extend its military presence past 2014, when Nato and United Nations mandates expire and all foreign troops leave the country.
Hagel announced his visit to Pakistan during a meeting with troops at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan. The last US defence secretary to visit Pakistan was Robert Gates in January 2010. The last US defence secretary to visit Pakistan was Robert Gates in January 2010.
Regarding the budget talks in Washington, automatic spending cuts are set to slice $52bn from the defense budget in the fiscal year that began on 1 October. Officials have said lawmakers are negotiating a deal that could restore between $10bn to $25bn each year, for the next two years, to defense spending.
Speaking to marines at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan, Hagel said the possible deal could give the department two years of budget certainty. "I want to reassure you that we will take care of our troops first, our families, we will fund completely the priorities of our missions and you will get everything you need to do your mission," he said.
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