Afghan president to embark on landmark US visit

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani speaks during a event in Kabul January 1, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

As the Afghan president heads to the US on his first trip to Washington as head of state, the landmark visit offers a chance for both sides to start afresh and wipe the slate clean on the legacy of troubled US-Afghan relations.

Ashraf Ghani faces a daunting task long-term, the visit could set the tone for years to come. More pressingly, Ghani needs firm commitment of American military support in his fight against the Taliban and other insurgent groups, including an Islamic State affiliate, which he and US military leaders fear is finding a foothold in Afghanistan.

Ghani's relationship with Washington stands in stark contrast to that of his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, whose antagonism toward the US culminated in a refusal to sign security agreements with Washington and NATO before leaving office. Ghani signed the pacts within days of becoming president in September, and has since enjoyed a close relationship with US diplomats and military leaders.

"It's important for Afghanistan that the United States has trust in the leaders of the country and uses this visit to show its support for the new government," said Afghan political analyst Jawed Khoistani. "A long-term American presence in Afghanistan is essential."

Ghani's week-long trip, which starts Sunday, comes as the Afghan army is waging its first-ever solo offensive against the Taliban in Helmand province, their southern heartland, seeking a decisive victory ahead of the spring fighting season as evidence it can carry the battle without US and NATO combat troops that withdrew from Afghanistan at the end of 2014.

Ghani, who was personally involved in planning the Helmand operation, launched in February, will ask the US for enhanced backup in the offensive, including air support, several officials close to the Afghan president told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the upcoming visit.

There are 13,000 foreign soldiers still in Afghanistan, about 9,800 American troops and 3,000 from NATO _ down from a peak of 140,000 in 2009-2010. Those still here are involved in training and supporting Afghan security forces, with battlefield backup only when necessary. Also, half of the US troops are engaged in counterterrorism operations against the Taliban and al-Qaida.

US officials have said the Obama administration is set to abandon plans to draw down to 5,500 troops by year's end, bowing to military leaders' requests. And while no final decision on numbers has been made, the US is expected to allow many of the American troops to remain well into 2016.

However, Ghani has already signaled in talks ahead of the visit that he wants the US to maintain 10,000 troops in Afghanistan throughout the next decade, according to a European military official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks.