ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT, Sept. 18, 2013 – Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter today wrapped up a weeklong overseas trip that included stops in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

After spending three days in Afghanistan, Carter stopped in Islamabad, Pakistan, for talks with senior defense and government officials. Among the topics discussed was the importance of Pakistan’s continued economic development to the security of the region, Carter said today.

The economic development of Pakistan is essential, he said.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2013 – Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter traveled to Pakistan today and met with senior Pakistani government and defense officials, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

In a statement, Little said Carter met with Sartaj Aziz, advisor to the prime minister for foreign affairs and national security; Gen. Khalid Shameem Wynn, chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee; and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2013 – Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter has wrapped up a three-day visit to Afghanistan, where he met with senior International Security Assistance Force, coalition and Afghan officials.

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 13, 2013 – Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived at the International Security Forces Joint Command Headquarters here today for meetings with senior U.S., NATO and Afghan officials to review the progress of the drawdown.

The Afghanistan retrograde is on schedule to meet the December 2014 deadline, a senior defense official said Sept. 10 during a background briefing for Pentagon reporters. The official added that Carter would use the trip as an opportunity to get a boots-on-the-ground perspective of the retrograde process.

WASHINGTON, May 17, 2013 – Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter welcomed Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the Pentagon yesterday to discuss the military relationship between their nations, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

In a statement summarizing the meeting, Little said Carter expressed admiration for the foundational work the United States and Liberia have accomplished together to make the Liberian armed forces a viable and stabilizing force.