Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani (R) shakes hands with US Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace in Kabul on July 12, 2016. US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter reiterated Washington's support for "courageous" Afghan security forces July 12, days after the United States and NATO pledged to keep thousands of troops in the troubled country. / AFP PHOTO / SHAH MARAISHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images