WASHINGTON, October 23 (RIA Novosti) - US President Barack Obama has invited the newly elected President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani and his Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah to visit the White House early in 2015.
"The President also reiterated his offer for President Ghani and CEO Abdullah to visit the White House early in the new year," a White House press release issued Wednesday following a video conference between the two presidents said.
During the talk, Obama congratulated the two leaders for a productive first month for the new government and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to support the Afghan government.
"The Presidents discussed strengthening the Afghan National Security Forces to improve the security situation in Afghanistan, American and regional support for an Afghan-led peace process, and near-term Afghan budgetary reform and longer-term fiscal sustainability," the press release added.
The new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn into office on September 29. The following day, Afghanistan, the United States and NATO signed a deal to formally justify the presence of a limited military contingent in the Central Asian state after the formal withdrawal of international forces. A follow-up force of about 12,000 troops is likely to stay throughout 2015 on training and support duties.
