Senator Burr Sees Progress in Afghanistan

Statement

U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) made the following statement regarding his recent visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"So much has changed in Afghanistan since my last visit a year ago. General Petraeus and the actions of our and allied forces on the ground have yielded important security gains in the southern provinces of Afghanistan. The progress was evident as we were able to walk through village bazaars and travel across regions of the country which just last year were major Taliban strongholds.

"I am optimistic that we have started to turn the corner and that we will be in a position to hand over regions of the country to Afghan control this spring. There will be setbacks, as there always are, but our brave men and women are making great progress in a difficult environment."

Burr was joined on the trip by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Pat Toomey (R-PA).

The Congressional Delegation met with U.S. troops, military officials and political leaders to discuss military involvement, as well political and economic issues affecting Afghanistan and Pakistan. Senator Burr met with troops serving from North Carolina, as well as General David Petraeus, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir of Pakistan, and Pakistani General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army.

Source