US defense secretary Robert Gates today described Afghanistan as the US military's greatest challenge and its top priority underpresident Barack Obama.
Mr Gates, who appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee, also warned that Iraq could still hold potential setbacks and hard days for US troops.
He told lawmakers that international efforts to help Afghanistan have been less than stellar.
"There is little doubt that our greatest military challenge right now is Afghanistan," the US defense chief said. "President Obama has made it clear that the Afghanistan theater should be our top overseas military priority."
"While this will undoubtedly be a long and difficult fight, we can attain what I believe should be among our strategic objectives -- an Afghan people who do not provide a safe haven for al-Qaeda, reject the rule of the Taliban and support the legitimate government that they elected," he said.
Turning to Iraq, Mr Gates said Washington's recent pact with the Iraqi government calling for the withdrawal of US forces by the end of 2011 shows American military involvement there winding down but he still urged caution.
"Though violence has remained low, there is still the potential for setbacks -- and there may be hard days ahead for our troops," he said.
"As our military presence decreases over time, we should still expect to be involved in Iraq on some level for many years to come."
Mr Gates said Western efforts in Afghanistan have long suffered from a lack of coordination between more than 40 nations, hundreds of nongovernmental organizations, universities, development banks, the United Nations, European Union and Nato.
"Coordination of these international efforts has been less than stellar," he said in written testimony submitted before the hearing.
"Based on our past experience in Afghanistan -- and applicable lessons from Iraq -- there are assessments under way that should provide an integrated way forward to achieve our goals."
Reuters