US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld speaks at a joint press conference held with Afghan President Hamid Karzai (not seen in the picture) in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, July 11, 2006. Rumsfeld arrived in Kabul Tuesday to hold talks with Karzai. (Xinhua Photo)

US won't withdraw troops from Afghanistan: Rumsfeld

    KABUL, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said here on Tuesday that the U.S military forces will not leave Afghanistan and it will play an important role in fighting against terrorism in the country.

    Speaking at a joint press conference with Afghan President HamidKarzai, Rumsfeld said, "the U.S. military is not leaving Afghanistan, although NATO-led troops would take command of the anti-terror war from the U.S.-led coalition forces in southern Afghanistan late July."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks at a joint press conference held with US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (not seen in the picture) in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, July 11, 2006. Rumsfeld arrived in Kabul Tuesday to hold talks with Karzai. (Xinhua Photo)