The U.S. will keep a larger force in Afghanistan for the first few months of 2015 than it initially planned to , outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Saturday . During a joint press conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani , Hagel said that up to 10,800 troops will remain in the country at the start of next year ; a previous announcement called for 1,000 fewer troops . Hagel arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday in order to assess the nation as the United States begins the drawdown of its forces in the New Year , he said . He said that President Barack Obama authorized the change in force size in order to provide military commanders `` flexibility . '' `` The President 's authorization will not change -- it will not change our troops ' missions or the long-term timeline for our withdrawal , '' Hagel said . Kabul has seen an uptick in Taliban attacks in recent weeks , a sign of instability that he said comes as no surprise . `` It 's predictable that they would do everything they could and continue to do to try to disrupt and discourage the new government of President Ghani , '' he said . However , the spike in violence in the Afghan capital was not a factor in the decision to keep more U.S. troops in the country next year , a Defense Department official said . The decision is due to the late signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement , which allows a specified amount of U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan after the combat mission ends this year . Ghani 's predecessor , Hamid Karzai , would not sign a security agreement with the United States . Despite the attacks , the Pentagon said Afghan forces are performing `` well , '' and are now in the lead on 99 % of the missions . `` The gaps are in aviation and ISR ( intelligence , surveillance , and reconnaissance ) , '' a senior defense official told reporters on the flight to Afghanistan . This is his fourth and last visit to Afghanistan as defense secretary . His first trip to Afghanistan was 12 years ago as part of a Congressional delegation . Asked by CNN how he would define victory more than a decade later Hagel said the people of Afghanistan are far better off today than they were 13 years ago , citing an elected government and a national security force . `` They 're not completely there yet , but they 've come a long way , '' Hagel said . `` That 's to the credit certainly of the United States , the sacrifice , the blood and the treasure that we 've made there . '' His visit comes after the establishment of a new unity government in the fall , which Hagel will express strong support for during his trip , a second senior defense official said . The drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan will be `` gradual '' compared with the withdrawal of troops from Iraq , the first official said . In 2016 , the number of troops will slide down to 5,500 and by 2017 the coalition will consolidate to Kabul . `` As we draw down the combat mission , we have not forgotten what brought America to Afghanistan over a decade ago , '' Hagel said on Saturday . UK formally ends combat mission in Afghanistan . Maintaining a troop presence will allow the U.S. to monitor the progress of the Afghan security forces over time , according to the first official . `` The Afghan people and the Afghan government ... have asked us to stay , '' Hagel said contrasting the drawdown to the withdrawal troops in Iraq , where the U.S. could not negotiate an agreement that would allow a residual force in the country . The trip to Kabul follows Kabul 's announcement last month that he will step down as soon as the Senate confirms his successor . Obama announced Friday that Ashton Carter will be his nominee to replace Hagel . Hagel , who has served as defense secretary since February last year , was forced out by Obama , several sources told CNN . During remarks announcing his resignation , Obama praised him as an `` exemplary '' defense secretary , calling him critical to various national security accomplishments during his tenure . He said Hagel 's resignation was his own choice . A critic of the Iraq war , Hagel took over from his predecessor Robert Gates to oversee the draw down from Afghanistan and a heavily cut Pentagon budget . The former Nebraska senator was the last Republican in Obama 's Cabinet . He is a Vietnam combat veteran . Hagel 's unannounced visit will include stops in other countries in the region .
Up to 10,800 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan at the start of 2009 . Hagel 's unannounced trip will include other stops in the region . The trip follows a recent announcement that he would step down as defense secretary . He has served as defense secretary since last year .