The Hill News

Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) concluded a visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan this week. The Senators were in the region from Aug. 21 through Aug. 23 and met with U.S. troops and commanders and senior civilian and government leaders.

The Senators made the following joint statement about their trip:

We are in awe of the extraordinary professionalism of our troops and at the high morale they maintain.

There has been militarily significant progress in Afghanistan since our last visits, particularly in the south. The transition of selected regions to Afghan control is on target. The proportion of Afghan troops conducting missions has significantly improved, and the Afghans are increasingly in the lead. Increasing the size and capability of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) is having benefits. The ability of the ANSF to protect the Afghan people is the key to success o! f our mission. The vast majority of the Afghan people detests the Taliban and tolerate their presence out of fear.

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