U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (L) and Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani (R) attend a joint news conference in Kabul December 6, 2014. The United States will keep up to 1,000 more soldiers than previously planned in Afghanistan into next year, outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Saturday, in a recognition of the still formidable challenge from Taliban insurgents. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail (AFGHANISTAN - Tags: POLITICS)