Gates comments on US missions in Iraq, Afghanistan

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Gates said that his biggest concern in Afghanistan is the safe havens for terrorist groups over the border in Pakistan. (CCTV.com)

Robert Gates, US Defense Secretary, said, "And frankly I think before you start using terms like won or lost or victory or defeat, those are the kinds of things that I think historians have to judge, but I think that from the standpoint of the military mission we will have enjoyed significant success."

Gates said that his biggest concern in Afghanistan is the safe havens for terrorist groups over the border in Pakistan.

Robert Gates, US Defense Secretary, said, "I think it is the safe havens on the Pakistani side of the border, not just for Al Qaida but for the Taliban, for the Hakkani network for Gulbaddin Hekmati and these other affiliated groups that are all working together - they are in separate groups - but they are all working together and I think as long as they have a safe haven to operate there, it is going to be a problem for us and Afghanistan. "

The Pentagon chief said he personally believes that there is a big difference in Afghanistan compared with 20 years ago.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei