Mediaboss Marketing

FILE - In this file photo taken Tuesday, May 20, 2014, Afghanistan's then President Hamid Karzai, from left, reaches out to shake hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan watches before a group photo for the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Shanghai, China. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai travels to China on Tuesday, Oct. 28, signaling the pivotal role he hopes Beijing will play in Afghanistan's future, not only in the economic reconstruction of his war-ravaged country after U.S. and allied combat troops leave by the end of the year but also in a strategic foreign policy aimed at building peace across a region long riven by mistrust and violence. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, Pool, File)(The Associated Press)

FILE - In this file photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, right, walks past Chinese President Xi Jinping as they arrive at the Monument to the People's Heroes during a ceremony marking Martyr's Day at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai travels to China on Tuesday, Oct. 28, signaling the pivotal role he hopes Beijing will play in Afghanistan's future, not only in the economic reconstruction of his war-ravaged country after U.S. and allied combat troops leave by the end of the year but also in a strategic foreign policy aimed at building peace across a region long riven by mistrust and violence. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)(The Associated Press)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, second left, arrives for a press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the at presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. Ghani Ahmadzai travels to China on Tuesday, Oct. 28, signaling the pivotal role he hopes Beijing will play in Afghanistan's future, not only in the economic reconstruction of his war-ravaged country after U.S. and allied combat troops leave by the end of the year but also in a strategic foreign policy aimed at building peace across a region long riven by mistrust and violence. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)(The Associated Press)

In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai speaks during a press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. Ghani Ahmadzai travels to China on Tuesday, Oct. 28, signaling the pivotal role he hopes Beijing will play in Afghanistan's future, not only in the economic reconstruction of his war-ravaged country after U.S. and allied combat troops leave by the end of the year but also in a strategic foreign policy aimed at building peace across a region long riven by mistrust and violence. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)(The Associated Press)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai listens during a press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. Ghani Ahmadzai travels to China on Tuesday, Oct. 28, signaling the pivotal role he hopes Beijing will play in Afghanistan's future, not only in the economic reconstruction of his war-ravaged country after U.S. and allied combat troops leave by the end of the year but also in a strategic foreign policy aimed at building peace across a region long riven by mistrust and violence. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)(The Associated Press)

KABUL, Afghanistan The new Afghan president travels to China this week, signaling the pivotal role he hopes Beijing will play in Afghanistan's future, not only in the economic reconstruction of the war-ravaged country after U.S. and allied combat troops leave by the end of the year but also in a strategic foreign policy aimed at building peace across a region long riven by mistrust and violence.

Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai will leave Kabul on Tuesday for a three-day visit to China, where he will meet President Xi Jinping, as well as potential investors to bankroll Afghanistan's development as it emerges from 30 years of war impoverished, wracked by corruption, and still struggling to contain the Taliban insurgency.

He will lead a delegation of Afghan businessmen at a summit where he hopes to attract Chinese investment to develop a mining industry as the bedrock of the economy, after more than a decade of dependence on international military and aid largesse. He will also attend the multilateral Istanbul Ministerial Process to discuss regional security, economic and political issues.

Since he took was sworn into office in late September, the president's first trip abroad was to Saudi Arabia on Saturday on a religious pilgrimage fulfilling an election promise.

The visit to China demonstrates Ghani Ahmadzai's intention of utilizing Afghanistan's natural resources as a trade-off for infrastructure and industry, to reverse the rapid decline in economic growth since the United States and its allies began withdrawing troops two years ago. Economic growth is seen falling to 1.5 percent this year, the World Bank said; 2013 growth was 3.7 percent, down from 9.4 percent the year before.

Original post:
Afghanistan's new president to visit China this week, signaling importance of ties

British troops ended their combat operations in Afghanistan on Sunday as they and U.S. Marines handed over two huge adjacent bases to the Afghan military, 13 years after a U.S.-led invasion launched the long and costly war against the Taliban.

Their coming departure leaves Afghanistan and its newly installed president, Ashraf Ghani, to deal almost unaided with an emboldened Taliban insurgency after the last foreign combat troops withdraw by year-end.

At the U.S. Camp Leatherneck and Britain's Camp Bastion, which lie next to each other in the southwestern province of Helmand, troops lowered the American and British flags for the final time on Sunday and folded them away.

The timing of their withdrawal has not been announced for security reasons.

Camp Leatherneck, the largest U.S. base to be handed over to Afghan control, and Camp Bastion together formed the international coalition's regional headquarters for the southwest of Afghanistan, housing up to 40,000 military personnel and civilian contractors.

But on Sunday, the base resembled a dust-swept ghost town of concrete blast walls, empty barracks and razor wire. Offices and bulletin boards, which once showed photo tributes to dead American and British soldiers, had been stripped.

"It's eerily empty," said Lt. Will Davis, of the Queen's Dragoon Guards in the British Army. Camp Bastion was also where Prince Harry was based in 2012 as an Apache helicopter gunner.

In all, 2,210 American soldiers and 453 British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001, when the U.S.-led coalition toppled the Taliban government for harboring al Qaeda after the militant group carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

The coalition has been led by NATO since 2003, and includes forces from Germany, Italy, Jordan and Turkey.

After Sunday's ceremony, the Afghan National Army's 215th Corps will be headquartered at the 11 sq mile base, leaving almost no foreign military presence in Helmand.

Go here to see the original:
Marines, British troops officially end Afghanistan operations

HELMAND, Afghanistan, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Britain on Sunday handed over its last military base to Afghan forces, formally ending its 13-year combat mission in the country.

British troops for the last time lowered both the British and American flags in a ceremony at Bastion-Leatherneck complex in Helmand, a news release from the British Ministry of Defense said.

British Secretary of State for Defense Michael Fallon said the move would give Afghanistan "the best possible chance of a stable future."

"Our armed forces' tremendous sacrifice laid the foundations for a strong Afghan security force, set the security context that enabled the first democratic transition of power in the country's history, and stopped it being a launch pad for terrorist attacks in the UK," he said. "Although we are ending a significant chapter in our shared history, the UK's commitment to support Afghanistan will continue through institutional development, the Afghan National Army Officer Academy, and development aid."

At its busiest, Bastion-Leatherneck complex housed up to 14,000 troops and included up to 600 aircraft movements each day. It had its own hospital, water bottling plant, shops, canteens and gyms.

Britain's combat involvement in Afghanistan cost the country more than $32.18 million.

2014 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Read the original here:
Britain ends combat mission in Afghanistan

By Christabelle Fombu and Bryony Jones, CNN

October 26, 2014 -- Updated 1909 GMT (0309 HKT)

A British soldier stands on top of an armoured vehicle as UK PM David Cameron visits Camp Bastion on June 29, 2013.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- Britain formally ended its combat mission in Afghanistan on Sunday, lowering the Union Jack for the final time before handing over its last remaining base to Afghan forces.

"I made a commitment that I would get our Armed Forces out of Afghanistan by 2015, and today sees the end of combat operations in the country," Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted on Sunday.

American troops also took part in the ceremony at the Bastion-Leatherneck coalition base in Helmand province, marking the end of 13 years of UK military operations in the country.

Britain's military presence moved to Helmand in 2006 to tackle an insurgency together with troops from the United States and other countries. A total of 453 UK troops have died in service in Afghanistan.

"We will always remember the courage of those who served in Afghanistan on our behalf and never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice," said Cameron.

According to the Ministry of Defence, Afghan National Security Forces will take over the bases and all operations. The United Kingdom will continue to support them in their development.

Read the rest here:
UK ends Afghanistan combat mission

U.K. armed forces and U.S. Marines have ended combat operations in Afghanistan. In a formal handover, British troops stood with peers from the U.S. Marine Corps and the Afghan National Security Forces as the Union Flag and Stars and Stripes were lowered for the last time at the Bastion-Leatherneck complex Sunday. Sergeant Obi Igbo, RLC/AP hide caption

U.K. armed forces and U.S. Marines have ended combat operations in Afghanistan. In a formal handover, British troops stood with peers from the U.S. Marine Corps and the Afghan National Security Forces as the Union Flag and Stars and Stripes were lowered for the last time at the Bastion-Leatherneck complex Sunday.

The Americans are leaving Camp Leatherneck today. In a formal handover of the base they share with British troops, the last U.S. Marine battalion in Afghanistan turned the complex over to Afghan forces and began the process of heading home. The coalition base in southern Helmand Province was first established nearly six years ago.

For Britain, the day brought an end to 13 years of military operations in Afghanistan.

NPR's Sean Carberry describes the scene at the base:

"The U.S., U.K. and NATO flags are lowered at Camps Leatherneck and Bastion. As ceremonial music plays, dozens of Marines, British troops, and Afghan soldiers stand at attention.

" 'This transfer is a sign of progress,' says Brigadier. Gen. Daniel Yoo, part of the Marine unit that stormed southern Afghanistan in 2001. Today, he's closing down the last Marine mission in Afghanistan.

Afghan Army Gen. Cher Mohammed Karimi says he appreciates the work of NATO forces, and 'their sacrifices here, in the toughest area of Afghanistan.'

"Helmand continues to be one of the most violent provinces in Afghanistan. More than 350 Marines and 400 British forces have died here. And more than 700 Afghan forces have been killed in Helmand just this year."

Marines play a game of cards as British and U.S. troops prepare to leave the Camp Bastion-Leatherneck complex at Lashkar Gah in Afghanistan's Helmand province. The base was formally handed over to an Afghan force Sunday. Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

The rest is here:
U.S. Marines Leave Afghanistan, Along With British Force