国际英语新闻:Obama Won't Draw Down US Troops in Afghanistan in 2015

Months after taking office in the first democratic transition of power in Afghanistan, Ghani has pledged a number of economic, electoral and governmental reforms.

He has also been focused on reinvigorating the U.S.-Afghanistan relationship, which was at a low point when Karzai left office last year, refusing to sign a bilateral security agreement.

In his first meeting with Ghani, Obama acknowledged the positive steps the new Afghan leader had taken, as well as progress in the Afghan political reconciliation process.

Obama said the United States intends to work with Afghanistan for a “long time,” noting that troop presence is just one component of the relationship.

“The more successful we are in building Afghan capacity and strengthening the Afghan economy, the more the strategic partnership that we have will be more like the partnership that we have with many countries around the world,” Obama said. “And it will be based on mutual interests, scientific and educational exchanges, and business opportunities.”

Both sides have agreed to require the Afghan government to complete reforms and meet other milestones in order to receive up to $800 million in economic aid. U.S. officials said the Afghans suggested the incentive-based funding idea.

Economic focus

Aarthi Gunasekaran of the Center for American Progress said that if Ghani and Abdullah followed through on pledges to fight corruption, redevelop the war-torn country and make Afghanistan more self-sufficient, the U.S.-Afghan relationship will begin to be seen more through an economic lens than a security one, similar to ties with countries such as India or Indonesia.

“That doesn’t necessarily have to come through the fact that there is [U.S. Agency for International Development] money allocated to Afghanistan because they are a fragile state of some sort. It’s in what way can we incentivize trade, can we look at cross border trade as well,” said Gunasekaran.

Ghani is expected to address a joint meeting of Congress Wednesday. On Thursday, the Afghan leaders head to New York for meetings with U.N. officials.