United States Department of Defense

Readout of Secretary Panetta’s Phone Calls with Afghanistan Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior

            Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs George Little provided the following readout: 

            "Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta placed calls to Afghan Minister of Defense Bismillah Khan Mohammadi and Minister of Interior Ghulam Mujtaba Patang today to congratulate them on their recent appointments.  Secretary Panetta and the Ministers expressed their eagerness to work together to address a number of important issues, such as the continued development of the Afghan National Security Forces and preventing insider attacks.  Secretary Panetta complimented Ministers Mohammadi and Patang on the increasing professionalism and capabilities of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, and reiterated the United States' continued commitment to a secure and stable Afghanistan."