WASHINGTON - Afghan national security forces have performed well this year, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has said, promising the ally continued financial support and advice.

In an interview with the Foreign Affairs magazine, Carter said Afghan security forces had done well this year when, for the first time, the amount of direct combat support provided by the coalition was minimal.

“We certainly hope this success continues, and we’re trying to set Afghanistan up for more success by continuing to support it for years and years and years -- not with direct combat support but financially and with advice and assistance,” Carter added.

In response to a question, the defense secretary said the situations in Afghanistan and Iraq were different and the two countries could not be compared.

“The two situations are very different. In Afghanistan, we have a government that warmly welcomes US support for the building of the Afghan security forces, that commands them in a nonsectarian manner,” he explained. (Pajhwok)